AT519211B1 - Dedusting device - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to a device for binding dust, comprising a binding agent reservoir which provides pressurized liquid binding agent, a binding agent line which is connected to the binding agent reservoir, with at least one atomizing nozzle being connected to the binding agent line, which is in the vicinity of a Dust source can be arranged. The device is designed in such a way that large areas, which can extend over lengths of a few 100 m, are supplied with binding agent and this can be carried out in pulses at short intervals (1 s to a few minutes) even with these dimensions.

Description

description

DEVICE AND METHOD FOR BINDING DUST

The present invention relates to an apparatus and a method for binding dust. DE 297 18 708 U1 and EP 0 908 215 A2 disclose a device for binding or deposition of dust. This device is designed similar to a snow cannon with an air nozzle in which air is accelerated by means of a propeller or a rotor blade. In an air jet formed in this way, liquid is sprayed in through one or more nozzles. The liquid is thus transported in a finely divided form by the air jet. With this device, large amounts of water can be distributed over a large area.

[0002] DE 1 658 345 U describes a nozzle for atomizing water or a water-air mixture for the suppression of dust in underground mining. The nozzle is designed to be self-cleaning in that a part that determines the outlet cross-section of the nozzle is acted upon by a spring force. If the nozzle is soiled, an overpressure occurs which overcomes the spring force. This enlarges the nozzle opening and self-cleaning of the nozzle takes place.

In the German utility model DE 1 668 644 U a device for precipitating dust from gases is disclosed in which steam from fine particles is used to enclose the dust particles.

In WO 2014/019311 A1, another nozzle for spraying water is disclosed in order to remove dust from mining machines and to cool them. The water is distributed as finely as possible by means of an air stream.

DE 915 203 B describes a further method and a further device for precipitating dust. Nozzles are provided on the pipe system, at each of which a partial flow of a mixture of air and liquid is branched off. With each branch the mixing ratio between air and liquid is changed. This is used specifically to vary the mixing ratio of mist in spray along the pipe system.

[0006] EP 0 950 796 A1 describes a spray mist system for precipitating dust in which an air jet is mixed with water at one or more mixing nozzles. The mixing nozzles are arranged as close as possible to the dust generation points.

In DE 23 35 861 A1 a device for introducing easily dusty bulk material into a round silo is described. The bulk material is wetted when it is fed into the silo by means of a dust binding agent by being sprayed with the dust binding agent. The dust binding agent is water with an addition of a water surface relaxant.

From DE 6 812 095 U another device for precipitating dust is apparent, in which the dusty material is sprayed directly with water.

DE 1 815 543 relates to a device for depositing dust in the cutting and peeling coal extraction. The immediate place where the dust is generated and its immediate surroundings should always be covered with a water veil. An extraction machine is always located in the area of a group of nozzles, from which it is covered with a water veil.

DE 41 31 75 A1 discloses a planing alley spraying system in which a planing alley can be sprayed with several nozzles. This spraying system is characterized in that the nozzles assigned to an expansion frame can be fed in via a separate switching valve and several spray zones of variable size can be formed. This is to achieve an optimal adaptation of the spray zone to the respective conditions with a reduction in water consumption, since only that many nozzles are switched on or off.

are fed in, as is necessary for the greatest possible dust binding.

DE 1 795 744 U discloses a device for precipitating the dust suspended in the air, which device has a washer with which the air containing the dust is sucked in and is sprayed with water inside the washer so that the dust is bound.

In AT 512 490 A1, a high-pressure mist system is described that can be used, among other things, to bind dust. This high-pressure mist system is intended to generate suspended water mist. Water, especially drinking water, is supplied at a pressure of about 70-100 bar to the nebulization openings at which the water is sprayed. By means of switchable valves, several zones can be provided, which are independently exposed to fog.

DE 34 41 386 A1 discloses a method for precipitating dust, in which a foam gun is used, with which foam is provided for binding the dust.

[0014] WO 2008/082316 A2 and WO 2008/020773 A1 each show spray nozzles with which water is atomized. These spray nozzles are primarily intended for various purposes in mining. Among other things, dust conditions should be controlled.

[0015] WO 2011/095463 A-2 discloses a spray nozzle unit, in particular for spraying hazardous areas in underground mining and for use in ultra high-speed fire suppression systems with response times below 50 ms. This spray nozzle unit comprises a nozzle body which has a nozzle opening for jetting out spray liquid.

[0016] US 2007/0125558 A1 discloses a device for binding dust. This device comprises a storage container for binding agent, pumps are controlled by means of an optical sensor in order to convey binding agent from the binding agent storage container and to deliver it accordingly. In this case, it is provided in particular to pump out binding agent from the storage container by means of the pump or pumps and to dispense it via the corresponding nozzles.

[0017] WO 2014/161023 A1 discloses a dust binding device for containers. According to this device, it is provided that binding agent is conveyed from an external storage container and that it is discharged via a corresponding line system by means of pumps into a container above a dusting medium in order to bind the dust in this way.

[0018] DE 20 2015 104 984 U1 discloses a device for removing suspended dust, in particular fine dust, from the ambient air of a traffic infrastructure. This device comprises e.g. B. a spray device with a pressure generating device for providing a pressure difference. The spray device presses or sucks liquid solvent from an intermediate container which is fed via a supply line (not shown). It is provided here, by means of the spray devices, to transfer the liquid solvent from the floor, at the height of which a respective intermediate container is arranged, into an elongated spray line. Nozzles are arranged along the length of the spray line. The liquid solvent is sprayed into the ambient air in the form of drops from these nozzles.

From DE 75 35 462 U a control device for the switching actuation of spray nozzles for the precipitation of dust in mining operations emerges. Spray nozzles are provided which, for. B. can be switched on and off individually by means of a lever or in groups by means of appropriate switching valves. A control device can be used to remotely control the switching valves by means of corresponding switching elements. The spray nozzles are to be controlled in such a way that the dust is deposited directly at the point of origin, regardless of the driving speed of a mining machine. H. is effectively knocked down in the working area of the mining machine.

DE 18 15 543 A discloses a device for precipitating dust. There

Provision is made to combine a plurality of nozzles into groups that can be operated jointly in such a way that the respective group areas overlap in order to operate the nozzle group within which the extraction device is located in order to knock down the dust generated by the extraction device.

A spray device emerges from US Pat. No. 2,722,456 A. This spray device comprises a storage container. A pump is connected to the storage container via a line in order to convey a spray medium from the storage container. The pump can be designed as a gear pump. Furthermore, a line is connected to the pump, on which a plurality of nozzles for dispensing the spray medium are arranged. Furthermore, a valve is provided to control the dispensing of the spray medium. The volume flow of the spray medium conveyed from the storage container can be adjusted by means of a further valve. In addition, it is described in the application that the spray medium 14 is conveyed to the nozzles by means of a pressure generated by the pump. The pump is designed as a gear pump. Furthermore, another line branches off from the line into the storage container, to which corresponding nozzles are connected in order to agitate, mix and stir the spray medium.

[0022] EP 1 084 607 A1 discloses a movable storage device. This storage device comprises a pressure vessel which has means for exerting compressive forces on water held in the pressure vessel. The means for exerting pressure forces can be formed in the pressure vessel itself or on the pressure vessel, for example by means of a pressure compensating vessel. According to one embodiment, the pressure vessel has a deformable membrane which divides the pressure vessel into a lower chamber and an upper chamber. The lower chamber can be filled with water via a line and then reduces the size of the upper chamber, in which a helical spring is arranged to apply pressure to the membrane. Instead of the helical spring, an inert gas such as nitrogen or carbon dioxide can be kept in the chamber as a compressible pressure medium. There a dispensing valve is directed at the area to be watered and opened. A spray nozzle with an upstream actuating valve 32 is preferably provided for delivery.

[0023] DE 000P0047416MAZ discloses a sprinkler system with an automatically acting parking device. This sprinkler system is z. B. trained to irrigate three different sprinkling fields I, II and III.

DE 75 35 462 U discloses a control device for switching actuation of spray nozzles for precipitating the dust in mining operations in order to spray an extraction field.

DD 2 58 837 A1 discloses a method and an arrangement for producing large-area dust barriers.

[0026] US 479 979 A discloses a spray device.

DE 18 33 442 U discloses an "ambulant" relocatable arrangement for irrigating agricultural areas.

DE 380 896 A discloses a sprinkler system with branch lines branching out from a field line.

DE 19 28 789 C discloses a system for sprinkling water or fertilizer in greenhouses.

[0030] US 2014/0239080 A1 discloses a stationary sprinkler system.

From CN 207951785 U a crane with a boom is known, along which a line with several nozzles for distributing water is arranged. This device is intended to bind dust.

From US 2008/0283623 A1 a device emerges with which excess water is to be distributed from boreholes. This device has one on a rope

suspended line, with nozzles for spraying the water are arranged on the line. This line is formed from a rigid tube at the section in which the nozzles are arranged. These nozzles are arranged directly on the pipe.

From Technical Fluid Mechanics, Leopold Böswirth, textbook and exercise book, 8th edition, Vieweg + Teubner, Chapter 12.3, it is known that in the case of long, liquid-flowed binder lines, the pressure on a slide that is opened or closed suddenly increases sharply or can drop sharply. Steam can even form on the downstream side. Pressure surges are reflected in the pipe system and lead to pressure oscillations. Such pressure surges can considerably impair the service life of devices with liquid-carrying lines.

In summary, it can be stated that for binding dust

1. often an air / water mixture is used to atomize the water and distribute it over a large area,

2. If possible, a mist or spray is provided directly at the point where the dust is generated in order to bind the dust, and

3. A wide variety of dust binders, such as spray rain, fog, foam with and without chemical additives, can be used.

An object of the present invention is to provide a device and a method for binding dust with which dust can be bound very efficiently.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a device and a method for binding dust with which dust can be reliably bound with as little dust binding agent as possible.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a device and a method for binding dust, the device or the device used in this method being subject to low wear.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a device and a method for binding dust, with which along or within a large distance or large area, such as a road section or a gravel pit, the escape of Dust can be reliably prevented or significantly reduced.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a device and a method for binding dust which can be used on machines and vehicles of various types, e.g. Stone crushers, track laying machines, asphalt milling machines, cleaning vehicles, etc. can be attached or integrated, which also enables mobile operation.

[0043] One or more of the present objects are achieved by the subjects specified in the independent claims. Advantageous configurations are specified in the respective subclaims.

The binding of dust can in principle take place by means of an artificial mist or a spray. In the case of an artificial mist, a mist is created in the air that slowly settles on the ground, whereby the dust is washed out of the air by the mist droplets. With the spray, the soil is moistened with binding agent, so that the formation of dust is prevented. The main difference between the formation of fog and the spray is the size of the droplets, with a smooth transition. The generation of a mist also leads to a wetting of the ground, and the generation of a drizzle also leads to the washing of dust from the air. However, in the case of an artificial mist, the main focus of the effect lies in washing dust out of the air, and in the case of a spray, in wetting the ground. Artificial mist comprises droplets with a size smaller than 200 µm, in particular smaller than 150 µm or smaller than 100 µm. Spray includes droplets at least 100 µm, more preferably at least 150 µm, and preferably at least 200 µm.

In devices in which the soil is wetted with spray, are preferred

no more than 6 l / m? / h and preferably no more than 4 l / m ’/ h and in particular no more than 3 l / m? / h of binder are discharged. This ensures that no puddles arise. If the floor is sealed, the amount discharged should be set lower than if the floor was not sealed. The amount of binder to be dispensed should be at least 0.75 l / m? / H and preferably at least 1 l / m ’/ h or in particular at least 1.2 l / m / h to ensure sufficient wetting of the soil. These values for the discharge of the binding agent apply to continuous operation. With interval operation, the quantities discharged are reduced accordingly by the pause times.

The devices explained below for guiding and directing streams of binder can be used both for generating mist and spray, unless expressly stated otherwise.

According to a first aspect of the present invention there is provided an apparatus for binding dust, comprising

A binder reservoir, which provides pressurized liquid binder,

A binding agent line which is connected to the binding agent reservoir, wherein at least one atomizing nozzle is connected to the binding agent line and can be arranged in the vicinity of a dust source.

The atomizing nozzle is arranged in the vicinity of the dust source, wherein it is preferably designed and arranged so that not the dust source is sprayed with the binding agent, but a binding agent mist is formed at a predetermined distance from the dust source. This arrangement is based on the knowledge that dust is whirled up at a dust source, so that a dust source is mostly connected to a turbulent air flow. If you were to bind dust with a binder in such a turbulent air flow, then the binder requirement is considerable. If, on the other hand, the dust is bound in places remote from the dust source, where the air flow has calmed down, then the dust stays longer in the air, which means that the dust can be reliably bound with significantly fewer mist droplets than at the location of the dust source itself. Even if if you surround a local dust source with an artificial smoke screen at a distance, the need for binding agent is significantly lower than if the dust source is sprayed directly with the binding agent, although the area in which the fog is artificially generated is usually considerably larger than the dust source , since it encloses the source of dust at a predetermined distance.

The distance is to be chosen so that in the area of the fog the air flow containing the dust has calmed down to such an extent that the fog can gradually lower to the ground and is not moved away in an uncontrolled manner. Usually a distance of a few 10 cm, preferably at least 50 cm or at least 1 m or at least 2 m must be maintained. When choosing the appropriate distance, external air currents must also be taken into account, which can be generated by movements of goods, vehicles, wind or thermals. Thermal waves often occur in halls in particular. It can also be useful to provide one or more baffles with which an air flow contaminated with dust is guided in such a way that it calms down and an artificial mist can efficiently remove the dust.

The distance to the dust source is preferably to be selected so that the mist is located primarily in an area in which the air flow is not greater than 1 m / s, in particular not greater than 0.8 m / s or not greater than 0 , 7 m / s and preferably not greater than 0.5 m / s. It has been shown that with an air flow of more than 1 m / s the dust cannot be efficiently bound with a mist or that the amount of water required for efficient dust binding increases exponentially. The air currents can vary in place and time. When unloading large stones, for example, a very strong air flow can briefly occur, with the air flow being significantly weaker in the pauses between the individual unloading processes. Exceeding the limit values for the maximum air flow for a short time only negatively affects the efficiency of dust binding. Baffles can

be provided in order to keep foreign air flows from the fog area in order to be able to adhere to the above-explained limit values of the air flow in the fog area.

The binder is a liquid binder, preferably water. In the prior art, an air / water mixture is often used. Such an air / water mixture is disadvantageous, however, because the proportion of air creates a high inherent air flow which is not suitable for generating a floating mist. An air / water mixture can be used to produce a spray, but water driven through an atomizing nozzle without air is preferred.

The binder is made available in the binder reservoir at a pressure of preferably a maximum of 10 bar, in particular preferably a maximum of 7 bar and in particular not more than 5 bar. The lower the pressure, the easier it is to design a device with a long binding agent line that allows large-area coverage with spray mist. At higher pressures, there is a risk that individual components will not be able to withstand the load in the long term, and the entire regulation and control of the pressure in the binder line becomes much more time-consuming and complicated.

The binder reservoir should provide the binder with a pressure of at least 2 bar, preferably at least 3 bar and particularly preferably at least 4 bar. The higher the pressure at the binding agent reservoir, the greater the pressure losses in the binding agent line can be, and nevertheless a pressure sufficient for atomization can be provided at the atomizing nozzle or nozzles. This also means that the greater the pressure on the binder reservoir, the longer the binder line can be without the need for an additional pressure stage in the form of a pump. The binding agent reservoir can be a well, a tank with and without a feed pump or a connection to a water line which provides the binding agent water at a predetermined pressure.

The pressure with which the binder reservoir or a binder source is made available is preferably set using a pump. The pressure can also e.g. be given by an existing water supply or an elevated tank, which provides sufficient pressure through a suitable geodetic height difference, so that no extra pump is necessary to convey the binding agent out of the binding agent reservoir.

Limiting the pressure to a maximum value in the range of 5 to 10 bar also has the advantage that the binding agent line can be formed from an elastic pipe, such as a plastic pipe, in particular a PE pipe. Such elastic tubes have considerable advantages, since on the one hand they can buffer pressure, connection points for atomizing nozzles can be punched at any point and, moreover, can be laid very quickly and easily.

Another advantage of limiting the pressure is that no high-pressure pumps are required, which are susceptible to dirty air. High pressure pumps are pumps that generate a permanent operating pressure of 20 bar or more.

The atomizing nozzle or nozzles are designed in such a way that the binding agent is atomized with a droplet size of 30 to 120 µm and preferably 50 to 150 µm and in particular with a droplet size of 60 to 90 µm. Such a droplet size forms a floating mist in calm air that reliably binds the dust and gradually sinks.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, the binding agent line can extend over a distance of at least 100 m or in particular of at least 300 m, several atomizing nozzles being connected to the binding agent line along this distance, and wherein the device is designed in such a way that that no more than 6 l / m * h of binder are discharged onto the floor during a spraying process.

The amount of sprayed binder is preferably adjusted so that a

there is a slight excess of moisture, i.e. not all of the atomized binding agent can be absorbed by the air, but liquid mist particles are present in the air. Such mist particles sink and bind the dust contained in the air and transport it to the ground. The amount of water dispensed is preferably so large that a sufficiently strong downward movement takes place to quickly transport the dust downwards. A certain excess of binding agent reduces the standard effort. Nevertheless, with such a droplet size, it is possible to adjust the amount of binder sprayed out so that on the one hand a stable floating mist is provided that reliably binds the dust, and on the other hand the amount of binder is so small that no puddles are formed on the ground. The devices for generating an artificial mist are preferably designed in such a way that about 5 to 30 liters of binding agent per hour are dispensed per nozzle, the binding agent being distributed over an area of 0.8 m to 1.5 m around the nozzle. The at least one atomizing nozzle is preferably a pressure nozzle which is designed with an automatically locking or opening pressure control valve and therefore opens automatically from a certain opening pressure of the supplied binding agent and the device has a pressure control with which the pressure in the binding agent line can be controlled. This makes it possible to use the pressure control to control whether the one or more atomizing nozzles dispense binding agent or not.

In particular, according to the first aspect it is provided that the binding agent line can have one or more pressure control valves which open as pressure switching valves from a predetermined switching pressure and thus release a supply of binding agent to the atomizing nozzle (s) or also open as pressure control valves from a predetermined switching pressure and at the same time regulate a pressure on the outflow side of the pressure control valve to a predetermined pressure range. The advantages of corresponding pressure nozzles or corresponding pressure control valves, which open as pressure switching valves from a predetermined switching pressure and thus release a supply of binding agent to the atomizing nozzle (s) or as pressure regulating valves also open from a predetermined switching pressure and at the same time regulate a pressure on the downstream side of the pressure regulating valve to a predetermined pressure range are shown below and are also explained in detail using a corresponding exemplary embodiment.

The pressure nozzles or the pressure control valves can for example be designed with an opening pressure of 2 bar, 3 bar or 4 bar. The closing pressure is preferably somewhat less than the opening pressure. At an opening pressure of 2 bar the closing pressure is, for example, 0.9 bar, at an opening pressure of 3 bar, for example, 1.5 bar, and at an opening pressure of 4 bar, for example, 1.8 bar. This ensures that the pressure drop produced after opening the respective nozzle does not immediately close again, but can be kept open at a low pressure.

Such pressure nozzles or the pressure control valves allow simple central control over the binding agent pressure, because the pressure control valves open and close completely when the pressure in the binding agent line is controlled accordingly. In addition, such independently firing pressure nozzles prevent the binder line from emptying, as they close automatically when the pressure drops below the switching pressure. As a result, the pressure in the binding agent line does not decrease or possibly only drops very slowly, so that no or only a very low pressure has to be built up in the binding agent line when pulsing at intervals. These pressure nozzles therefore also act as an outlet stop. This has the following advantages:

The binding agent line does not have to be filled before water is again dispensed via the atomizing nozzles. At most, a small amount of binder must be added between the individual pulses, with this binder suddenly being available and already under pressure due to the pressurized binder reservoir. This enables rapid pulsing with the smallest amount of discharge.

[0066] Pressurized water is therefore always in direct contact with the atomizing nozzles or the pressure nozzles or pressure control valves adjacent to them.

- Refilling the binder line is subject to the risk of pressure surges and cavitation in the lines and the nozzles and other components such as pumps, valves, etc. There is also the risk of unclean ambient air or dirty drainage water or other dirt being sucked in. This risk is avoided or at least reduced.

The pressure nozzles can be formed integrally with a pressure valve which has a predetermined opening pressure and a predetermined closing pressure. The pressure nozzles can, however, also consist of a nozzle and a separate, upstream pressure valve.

The pressure nozzles preferably have a membrane which is acted upon by a piston preloaded with a spring, so that a passage of the pressure nozzle is only opened from the predetermined opening pressure and is closed again when the shooting pressure is reached. The pressure nozzles are preferably set in such a way that they provide a pressure at the respective atomization nozzles that differs by a maximum of 20% and in particular a maximum of 10% in the entire dust binding device or in certain sections in which essentially the same atomizing nozzles are specified. Such a uniform application of pressure causes a uniform output of binding agent, the uniformity here relating both to the geometry of the respective spray cone of the individual atomizing nozzles and to the amount of binding agent released. It is above all expedient to provide approximately the same pressure on sections of the dust-binding device on which the same nozzles are arranged. Of course, differently designed sections, such as sections in which standing nozzles are provided for wetting a floor, can be subjected to a different pressure than, for example, sections in which hanging nozzles are provided for generating a mist and accordingly with differently set or differently designed pressure nozzles or otherwise designed pressure control valves.

A discharge of binding agent of different intensity is preferably set by the spacing of successive atomizing nozzles and not by different pressures. The atomizing nozzles are preferably designed in such a way that they emit the binding agent with a circular or semicircular throwing cone. The distance between two successive nozzles is preferably the diameter D of the circle of the corresponding throwing cone minus at least 20% (corresponds to 0.8D) and in particular at least 34% (corresponds to 0.66D) of this diameter. As a result, an approximately strip-shaped area is evenly supplied with binding agent, the overlapping sections of adjacent throwing cones being limited. The distance between adjacent nozzles is preferably in the range of the diameter of the throwing cone minus at least 45% and preferably at least 50% of the diameter. In the case of semicircular throwing cones, the smaller distances between the nozzles with at least 45% deduction from the diameter are preferred. Dust-binding devices that generate mist generally have a nozzle arrangement with maximum spacings of 0.55D or 0.5D.

The pressure control preferably has a control valve which is arranged in the binding agent line in the area between the binding agent reservoir and the at least one pressure nozzle, the control valve being controllable by a control device. As a result, the at least one atomizing nozzle can be supplied in a targeted manner with binding agent at a predetermined pressure. A plurality of control valves can also be provided, each of which is followed by one or more atomizing nozzles, which are then each subjected to a predetermined pressure by means of the respective control valve with binding agent. The control valves can be controlled hydraulically, pneumatically or electrically or mechanically by the control device.

The at least one atomizing nozzle can also be provided with a valve that can be controlled directly by a control device. The device can also comprise atomizing nozzles designed as pressure nozzles and also atomizing nozzles provided with a directly controllable valve. Such directly controllable valves can be controlled by the control device

can be opened and closed remotely.

The binding agent reservoir or a pressure reservoir can comprise a pressure vessel with a gas cushion. Such a pressure vessel with a gas cushion can be designed as a membrane vessel which has a membrane which divides the membrane vessel into a gas pressure space and a binder space. The pressure vessel can also be an air vessel in which a gas bubble is arranged which is in direct contact with the binding agent. Since gas is compressible, the binding agent can be accommodated in the pressure vessel with a gas cushion, the gas being compressed in the gas pressure space, whereby the binding agent is stored in the pressure vessel with a gas cushion as the pressure increases. Dynamic pressure changes can be reduced with one or more such pressure vessels with a gas cushion. Such dynamic pressure changes occur when the flow velocity changes due to the inertia of the liquid. Such changes are unavoidable as a result of startup, shutdown or shutdown processes. In particular, the rapid change in the flow rate and thus the speed in a pressure line, for example due to the rapid closing or opening of shut-off devices or a sudden pump standstill, generates pressure surges in the lines. The pressure then oscillates up and down around the outlet pressure. At the end of the line the pressure wave is reflected, comes back as a negative wave to the starting point and gradually swings out in multiple back and forth movements. The water column can even tear off as a result of the negative pressure. The subsequent collision of the two independently oscillating currents leads to particularly dangerous pressure surges. In principle, the opening and closing times of shut-off devices can be extended so that the speed change takes place in a harmless manner. However, operational cases such as a sudden pump standstill due to a power failure or an emergency stop switch are unavoidable. With the pressure vessel with gas cushion, such pressure surges can be reduced, since, for example, if a shut-off device is suddenly closed, the pressure vessel with gas cushion continues to absorb binding agent, provided that it is arranged in the direction of flow in front of the shut-off element and there is a gradual pressure increase in the binding agent line. In the event of a sudden failure of a pump, the pressure vessel with the gas cushion continues to deliver binding agent, so that the liquid column formed by the binding agent is not stopped abruptly. If a pressure vessel with a gas cushion is attached in front of the pump or at the pump inlet, this vessel can serve as additional protection for the pump or the upstream hydraulic elements, as it can compensate for supply fluctuations and dampen pressure surges. The binding agent supply to this pump must be under a certain pressure, otherwise the pressure vessel would be emptied.

The device can also comprise several pressure vessels with gas cushions. The pressure vessel with gas cushion can also be arranged distributed along the binding agent line. The volume of the pressure vessel with gas cushion or the pressure vessel with gas cushion can be at least 300 l, preferably at least 1,000 l, in particular at least 5,000 l and preferably at least 10,000 | or several 10,000 | be. The volume of the pressure vessel with gas cushion includes both the volume of the gas pressure space and the volume of the binder space. The binder space is usually about 20% to 50% of the total volume of the pressure vessel. In the normal state of the device, the pressure in the gas pressure chamber should be approximately 0.5 to 0.9 times the operating pressure or a switch-on pressure of a feed pump.

One or more pressure vessels with gas cushion (s) are particularly preferably used in a dust binding device which runs empty during standstill or pause times. These are, in particular, dust-binding devices which have no or only a few self-locking pressure control valves that function as outlet stops. In the event of a standstill or a break, the lines of this dust-binding device empty partially or completely. When operations are resumed, the pipes are first filled with binding agent. The property of pressure vessels with gas cushions is advantageous here, as they first deliver binding agents quickly into the line at high pressure, with the pressure in the pressure vessel decreasing due to the expansion of the gas cushion, whereby the delivery pressure also decreases accordingly. When the lines are almost completely full, the pressure is reduced, which means that

The problem of pressure hammer is reduced.

In a dust binding device, different sections can be formed which empty at different speeds during a standstill. The individual sections can each be provided with a separate pressure vessel, if this is appropriate. In particular, the sections that empty quickly are preferably provided with a pressure vessel so that they can in turn be filled up quickly.

The pressure vessel with gas cushion preferably has a supply line for filling the pressure vessel with gas cushion and a discharge line for emptying the pressure vessel with gas cushion, the supply line having a cross-sectional constriction compared to the discharge line so that the pressure vessel can be filled with gas cushion at a slower speed than emptying the pressure vessel with gas cushion. As a result, pressure peaks that arise when the binder is braked quickly in the binder line can be absorbed gradually over a longer period of time. The slow filling of the pressure vessel with gas cushion thus leads to a gradual deceleration of the moving column of binder liquid. Such a design of the pressure vessel with a gas cushion is also suitable for reliably intercepting currents directed downhill. On the other hand, in the event of a pump failure, a large flow of binder can be provided very quickly so that a corresponding pressure surge is avoided. In addition, both the duration of filling the pressure vessel (s) with gas cushion and the duration of emptying can be influenced by various mechanisms and / or depending on the prevailing operating pressures.

Instead of or in combination with the cross-sectional constriction, a different flow resistance can also be provided in the supply line. The flow resistance can be designed, for example, as a pressure reducer, baffle plate or as a height difference. If the pressure vessel with gas cushion is arranged a little above the binding agent line, preferably a few meters above the binding agent line, then the binding agent must be conveyed upwards against the force of gravity to fill the pressure vessel with gas cushion and can quickly move in when the pressure vessel with gas cushion is emptied due to the force of gravity the binder line are conveyed. If the delay in filling and the acceleration in emptying are brought about solely on the basis of such a height difference, then the supply line and the discharge line can be designed as a common line strand. When using such a height difference, it is expedient that the cross-section of the supply line and the discharge line is large, so that the liquid wave leading from the binding agent line to the pressure vessel with gas cushion has a high weight.

As has already been explained above, automatically closing pressure nozzles which function as an outlet stop allow intermittent operation, since pressurized water is always in direct contact with the atomizing nozzles or the pressure nozzles arranged adjacent thereto. Furthermore, the provision of one or more pressure vessels for the intermittent operation is advantageous, since emptying often cannot be completely prevented even with pressure nozzles that close automatically. The automatically closing pressure nozzles often lead to very slow emptying, so that refilling can be carried out very quickly at the beginning of a spray interval by means of a pressure vessel with a gas cushion.

This use of automatically closing pressure nozzles or the use of automatically closing control valves in connection with one or more pressure vessels result in very short reaction times for spraying out binder after a spray pause. The second reaction is stopped after a pause of at least 5 min. measured from the time a pump is switched on or a valve is opened, so that a branch in which the atomizing nozzles are located is acted upon with binding agent that is pressurized, until the point in time when all nozzles are activated by switching on the pump or opening the valve are supplied with binding agent, release binding agent. Response times of a few seconds were achieved with prototypes, even if the string was longer than 100 m. Dust-binding devices for generating mist are preferably designed so that their reaction time does not

is greater than 10 s and in particular not greater than 5 s and dust binding devices for wetting a floor are preferably designed so that their reaction time is not greater than 2 min. and in particular not greater than 1 min. and is preferably no greater than 30 seconds. Such short reaction times can be achieved even with large dust-binding devices which have strands with a length of more than 100 m and in particular more than 300 m.

Furthermore, elastic lines which can also store binding agents when pressurized are beneficial for the intermittent operation.

The device preferably has a pump which pumps the binding agent. A pressure switch can be coupled to the binding agent line, which switches on the pump when the pressure falls below a predetermined switch-on pressure, the switch-on time. This automatically maintains a predetermined minimum pressure in the binder line.

It is also possible to use several pressure switches to which different functions are assigned or which have different switch-on pressures. These functions are, for example:

[0084] Pressure switch 1: Switch the pump on / off [0085] Pressure switch 2: Monitor overpressure [0086] Pressure switch 3: Monitor underpressure (as can be present, for example, when running dry)

Pressure switch 4: line end pressure monitoring: if there is no pressure or too little pressure at the end of the line, this indicates a line break or blockage; or also checking whether a desired pipe network pressure reduction (e.g. before the pump stops) has already penetrated to the end.

Pressure switch 5: monitor the suction line for the correct negative pressure value. This is an indicator that the pump is sucking in and also an indicator of whether the suction force of the pump is in the correct range (avoidance of cavitation) or an indicator of whether there is a blockage in a suction line or a suction line prefilter.

Pressure switch 6: gas pressure monitoring of the pressure vessel with gas cushion

Pressure switch 7: filling status pressure vessel. A full pressure vessel can only be assumed if the pressure in the pressure vessel or in the relevant supply line or the main line is approximately constant during operation. Can e.g. can be used to make a decision as to whether a pump may already be switched off or whether it should continue to run in order to buffer in the pressure vessel.

Pressure switches 8 and 9: differential pressure evaluation upstream / downstream filter pressure. To monitor the filter status, whether this e.g. An excessive pressure loss is produced due to the accumulation of dirt and must be cleaned. An automated filter cleaning process can be started or only a message can be sent that the pressure difference is too great or should be cleaned.

These pressure switches do not all have to be constantly activated; they can also be “conditioned”. E.g. the negative pressure switch is only used to monitor a possible negative pressure while the pump is running.

The pressure switches can also be equipped with two switching points (lower and upper) in order to create certain hystereses, which make the system run more stable and quieter, since not every small change in status immediately leads to a switching process, but a certain threshold value is exceeded must become. This makes the system more stable and does not begin to cycle / oscillate. In addition, the pressure switches can be linked to timers (e.g. time relays) so that when a switching point is reached, only the timer is activated and the switching process only becomes effective after the stored time has elapsed.

The pressure switches can either trigger processes directly or only as

Warning alarms be active. In order to check the correct function, visual pressure indicators, e.g. Manometers or remote pressure transmitters can be attached or temporarily connected.

The pressure switch can also be designed such that when a predetermined switch-off pressure, the switch-off time, is exceeded, the pump switches off and / or an emergency discharge valve opens. A flow measuring device can also be coupled to the binding agent line in such a way that when the flow rate falls below a predetermined minimum, the pump is switched off and / or an emergency discharge valve is opened. This automatically ensures that the pressure in the binder line does not rise too much.

An excessively high flow rate (= abnormal operating status, e.g. line break) can also be determined with a pressure switch or another pressure measuring device. This flow measurement is expediently time-coupled, i.e. only after a certain stabilization phase after the system has started up (during the start-up phase, for example, briefly abnormal conditions prevail) does the measured value of the flow sensor apply. This can also be linked to the condition that, for example, the excess flow is maintained for a certain minimum time.

A switch-off delay device can be provided which allows the pump to be switched off only after a predetermined delay time interval has elapsed, the delay time interval starting with the switch-on time or the switch-off time or a time between the switch-on time and the switch-off time. Such a switch-off delay device prevents short-term pressure or volume flow fluctuations from causing the pump to switch off, which would cause further pressure changes. The change of state, i.e. the pressure drop or the reduction in flow must therefore be present for a certain period of time before the pump is switched. The delay time interval is preferably at least 5 seconds, preferably at least 15 seconds and in particular at least 30 seconds.

An overpressure pressure switch can be coupled to the binding agent line, which switches off the pump and / or opens an emergency discharge valve when a predetermined overpressure is detected, which is greater than the switch-off pressure. Switching on the basis of the detection of an overpressure by means of the overpressure pressure switch preferably overrides all further control processes, such as, for example, not switching off due to a continuous delay time interval. In addition, a signaling / alarm message / initiation of alarm case measures, e.g. additional separation of the binder supply take place.

The device is preferably designed such that the flow rate of the binding agent in the lines is not greater than 5 m / s and preferably not greater than 3 m / s. The greater the flow velocity, the greater the pressure losses. The pressure losses are proportional to the square of the flow velocity. In practice, these upper limits have proven to be very advantageous, since with these flow speeds it is possible to reliably supply several atomizing nozzles over a long distance (e.g. 1 to 5 km) with reasonable pipe cross-sections. Problems caused by pressure surges can arise at higher flow velocities.

The binder line can have a main line and a secondary line running parallel to the main line with a smaller cross-section, the ends of the secondary line opening into the main line and a volume flow meter being arranged in the secondary line. The flow rate measured in the secondary line is proportional to the flow rate in the main line or main flow and thus allows conclusions to be drawn about the entire volume flow through the main line and the secondary line. Measuring the lower volume flow in the secondary line is much easier than measuring the much larger volume flow in the main line.

The volume flow meter can be designed such that it the flow indirectly based on the temperature of the binder in the pump or in the flow direction shortly after

the pump and / or based on the power consumption of the pump and / or based on the pressure difference before / after the pump and / or based on the pressure in front of the pump and / or based on the pressure after the pump and / or based on the acoustics of the pump and / or based on the current energy consumption of the pump shaft. Since the pump generates heat and the binding agent is often provided by a cool reservoir such as a well, the temperature of the binding agent in the pump or in the direction of flow shortly after the pump can be used to determine the volume flow of the binding agent in the binding agent line or in the pump must be closed.

In the binding agent line, a ventilation device can be arranged which releases air bubbles from the binding agent line to the outside. Such air bubbles can arise from outgassing of the binder due to pressure changes. The venting device can be a passive venting valve that is permeable to gas and impermeable to liquids. The venting device can also be a switchable valve which is arranged in the binding agent line. When a gas bubble is present, the switchable valve is opened by means of a control device. The presence of a gas bubble can be detected by the control device and / or by means of a sensor on the basis of certain operating states. The predetermined operating states that can be detected by the control device are, for example, a standstill of the delivery, a low pump load when starting up. Gas bubbles can be determined by means of temperature sensors or pressure sensors, or ultrasonic sensors, or a magnetically inductive sensor or an X-ray device or a microphone. In particular when monitoring the pressure development when starting up the pump, a slow pressure increase can be assessed as a binder containing gas bubbles in the binder line.

The venting device is preferably arranged at local high points and locations with changes in volume flow, such as sharp-edged openings, pressure reducers, cross-sectional constrictions, at which air bubbles can collect. A venting device with a switchable valve is preferably combined with a venting device with a passive venting valve, with larger amounts of air being vented by means of the switchable valve when the device is started up and, during normal operation, venting takes place exclusively or almost predominantly with the passive venting valve.

The binder line can have one or more pressure control valves which open as pressure switching valves from a predetermined switching pressure and thus release a supply of binding agent to the atomizing nozzle (s) or open as pressure control valves also from a predetermined switching pressure and at the same time a pressure on the downstream side of the pressure control valve regulate a predetermined pressure range. Such pressure control valves then have the additional function of a pressure reducer. With one or more such pressure control valves, the binder line can be divided into different pressure zones. These pressure control valves preferably have different switching pressures. In particular, the pressure control valves are arranged in the binding agent line in such a way that pressure zones are formed with the pressure dropping at the distance from the binding agent reservoir.

The multiple pressure control valves can be arranged in a main line of the binding agent line, so that the main line is also divided into several pressure zones.

One or more pressure control valves can be arranged in a branch branch of the binding agent line branching off from a main branch, so that the respective branch branch is closed when the switching pressure is not reached. This prevents the main line from running empty and the respective pressure control valve is assigned to one or more atomizing nozzles arranged in the branch line.

By providing one or more pressure control valves, pressure differences in the binder line can be controlled and monitored in a targeted manner. Such pressure differences can be caused by switching operations due to height differences along the binding agent line, long line lengths and a resulting pressure drop, temperature changes in the binding agent line, pressure fluctuations. With the pressure control valves

Above all, emptying of the binding agent line, in particular the main strand of the binding agent line, can be prevented, whereby a quick start-up is possible again after an operational stoppage, since at least the main strand of the binding agent line is already filled with binding agent. This also prevents or reduces pressure surges. The pressure control valves can also be integrated in atomizing nozzles or arranged in combination with them. Such atomizing nozzles close automatically below a predetermined closing pressure, as a result of which emptying of the binding agent line in the area of the atomizing nozzles is avoided. The atomizing nozzles are often arranged in branches. The pressure control valves preferably close automatically when the pressure falls below a predetermined closing pressure, so that they can shut off the individual zones of the binder line independently. Such pressure control valves act as outlet stops to prevent the binder line from running empty.

To generate zones with different pressures, pressure reducers can also be used instead of pressure control valves which are arranged in the corresponding lines.

Such pressure reducers can also be assigned to or integrated into individual atomizing nozzles. Such a pressure reducer lowers the pressure to a predetermined reduced pressure. This ensures that the binding agent is applied to the atomizing nozzle at the constant, reduced pressure, provided that the binding agent is present at any, but higher, pressure in the area in front of the pressure reducer. The pressure in the line can therefore fluctuate and nevertheless the binding agent is applied to the respective atomizing nozzle at a predetermined pressure and a predetermined amount of binding agent and a predetermined spray profile are output from the nozzle.

Such a pressure reducer can be assigned to a single atomizing nozzle or to a group of several atomizing nozzles.

The binder line is preferably formed with an elasticity for elastic buffering of binder with an elastic volume of 1 per thousand and preferably at least 1% of the total volume of the binder line due to a pipe wall elasticity and / or at least one gas pocket and / or a pressure vessel with gas cushion. This volume of elasticity is preferably at least 2% or at least 5% of the total volume of the binder line. Because of this elasticity, pressure fluctuations in the binder line can be compensated for without pressure surges being generated or the effects of pressure surges being reduced. In order to provide pipe wall elasticity, plastic pipes, in particular PE pipes, which are made in particular of soft polyethylene, are preferably used as the binder line. The inner diameter of the tubes is preferably at least 16 mm. The binder line preferably has a length of at least 100 m. It can be several kilometers long. The binding agent line is preferably divided into zones or sections with a length of 100 to 600 m, preferably 250 to 500 m, with the pressure control valves explained above. Zones of elastic tubes of this type offer sufficient elasticity to dampen pressure peaks when closing shut-off ducts, which include valves and nozzles, in such a way that they do not cause any damage. The PE pipes can also be made of hard polyethylene. Holes can simply be punched in pipes made of soft polyethylene in order to insert nozzles or branch lines.

Preferably, the maximum elasticity of the binder line is 10% and in particular a maximum of 5% of the total volume of the binder line. Too much elasticity causes sluggishness in response behavior and can mean that it is not possible to specifically release the binding agent in short pulses.

The binder line can have a main line in which a pressure reducer is arranged, and parallel to the main line, a secondary line is arranged in which there is a check valve which opens against the flow direction of the pressure reducer. Depending on the design principle, a pressure reducer also acts as a check valve, so that a pressure peak that occurs on the pressure-reduced side of the pressure reducer has no effect

the pressure-reduced zone can escape through the pressure reducer. By providing the secondary line with the check valve, which opens against the flow direction of the pressure reducer, such a pressure peak can escape through the secondary line from the pressure-reduced zone, so that the pressure reduced by the pressure reducer can be set here again. The secondary strand preferably has a smaller diameter than the main strand.

The binder line preferably has elastic branch lines which are connected to a common line section or line section, an atomizing nozzle being arranged at each end of the branch lines remote from the line section or line section. Due to the weight of the atomizing nozzle or an additional weight provided on it, the respective branch line automatically aligns itself vertically. As a result, the flexible branch line positions and adjusts itself even if the entire dust-binding device is moved due to external circumstances, such as wind, for example. Such a dust binding device can be designed both to generate an artificial mist and to wet the ground.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, the binder line can be suspended from a support cable and the binder line can be elastic, the binder line being arranged approximately parallel to the support cable and attached to it at several points.

The binder line with or without elastic branch lines can be attached to a rope with appropriate pipeline hooks hanging. Such an arrangement can be installed very easily and quickly over long distances. A thin suspension cable, in particular a steel cable, which is stretched over a certain distance and on which the binding agent line is suspended by means of the pipe hook, is sufficient for this purpose. The binder line is preferably formed from a plastic material into which holes for connecting the branch lines can be pierced. This piercing of the holes is still possible after the binding agent line has been suspended from the suspension cable.

The atomizing nozzles can be arranged along the binding agent line at a distance of not more than 10 m, preferably not more than 8 m and in particular not more than 7 m.

The atomizing nozzles for spraying off the binding agent can be designed with a circular or circular segment-shaped spray cone, the maximum distance between two adjacent atomizing nozzles not being greater than 80% of the diameter of this circle.

The binding agent line can be provided with at least one filling rate control valve which, based on a detected volume flow of the binding medium, opens a passage for the binding agent approximately inversely proportional to the volume flow, that is, the lower the volume flow, the more open the filling rate control valve. With a low volume flow, the passage is opened completely. In the case of a high volume flow, it can be closed completely or closed to the extent that a previously determined volume flow is not exceeded. This ensures that a pump is not operated outside of its QH characteristic curve (= volume flow height characteristic curve). This also ensures that when a binder line is refilled, the volume flow is initially limited in order not to build up an excessive impulse when the air present in the binder line is expelled, which would cause a correspondingly large pressure surge at the end of the refilling process; so slow filling is an additional function of this valve.

The volume flow can be determined on the basis of the pressure difference in the flow direction upstream and downstream of the filling rate control valve and / or the filling rate control valve can also be controlled by a control device, the desired volume flow being adjustable.

The binding agent line can be provided with at least one filling control valve which, based on a detected filling state of the binding agent line, opens a passage approximately proportional to the filling state. This filling control valve works in a similar way to the filling rate control valve explained above and prevents an excessively high volume flow during refilling, which would cause a high pressure shock at the end of the refilling process.

The filling control valve can be designed with two opening stages, the passage being only slightly open at a low filling level, and the passage being fully open at a high filling level. The filling control valve can also be opened or closed continuously.

The binding agent line can have a pressure holding valve, which opens approximately proportionally to the pressure on the basis of a pressure detected in the binding agent line in the flow direction upstream of the pressure holding valve. As a result, the pressure in the flow direction upstream of the pressure maintaining valve is kept approximately constant, since when the detected pressure is reduced, the pressure maintaining valve closes somewhat, whereby the pressure in the flow direction upstream of the pressure maintaining valve increases again due to the back pressure. The pressure holding valve is preferably arranged in a main branch of the binding agent line.

The binding agent line has a main strand and a branch branch branching off from the main strand. A control valve is provided in the branch.

The control valve can be designed as a pressure relief valve that opens approximately proportionally to the pressure in the main line. If the pressure in the main line rises above a predetermined pressure, this leads to the binding agent being diverted via the branch line. The binding agent can be dispensed via atomizing nozzles or an empty line. This ensures that there is no undesirably high pressure in the main line. The pressure relief valve can only open from a predetermined minimum pressure in the main line.

The control valve in the branch line can also be designed as a quick release valve which opens essentially completely from a predetermined minimum pressure in the main line, so that a rapid pressure increase in the main line can be counteracted. After the pressure in the main line has dropped, the quick release valve can close more slowly than it opens, which means that pressure can build up slowly in the main line again.

The binder line can be connected to a well line which leads from the binder line down into the underground well, wherein a pump is arranged in the well line, and the control valve in the branch is controlled so that when the pump is switched on, the control valve a predetermined time interval is gradually closed and / or is gradually opened over a further predetermined time interval when the pump is switched off. In such well pipes, binding agent or water is conveyed in large quantities. The pump is usually located deep down, creating a high water column. The risk of pressure shocks is great. By gradually closing the control valve when the pump is switched on, the discharge of the binder via the branch line is gradually reduced, whereby the pressure in the binder line is gradually increased. When the pump is switched off, the control valve is gradually opened, which gradually reduces the pressure in the binding agent line and counteracts a pressure surge. The control valve is preferably opened shortly before the pump is switched off, so that there is already a reduced pressure in the binder line when the pump is switched off.

The binding agent line can have a control valve which is activated by a control device in such a way that it opens slowly over a predetermined time interval when a pump is switched on and / or is closed when the pump is switched off. This control valve reduces pressure surges when the pump is switched on and off. The control valve can be designed as a check valve that allows a return flow into or through the

Pump prevented.

[00129] The control device of the control valve can also be designed to control the pump, so that the pump is switched on and off synchronously with the switching of the valve.

A control device is preferably provided which controls the supply of binder from the pressure vessel with gas cushion into the binder line as a function of a fill level of the binder line, the fill level of the pressure vessel with gas cushion and / or the volume flow in the binder line. This control device is preferably designed so that when the fill level of the binder line is low, binder is withdrawn from the pressure vessel with a gas cushion at a high volume flow in order to fill the binder line quickly, the flow of binder being reduced or prevented when a higher fill level is reached to avoid a pressure surge. First, together with the pressure vessel with gas cushion and the pump, binder can be fed to the binder line, with the supply from the pressure vessel with gas cushion being reduced or completely stopped as the filling level increases, and the delivery rate of the pump is adjusted accordingly and preferably reduced.

The filling level of the pressure vessel with gas cushion can take place on the basis of the gas pressure, the binder pressure, by means of an ultrasonic sensor or a volume flow measurement. The volume flow measurement can be carried out with a volume flow measuring device described above. There can also be several pressure vessels with gas cushions.

In the binding agent line, one or more cyclone filters can be arranged, which have a flushing supply line and a flushing outlet line with a flushing outlet valve, so that when a flow of binder through the cyclone filter is stopped, the cyclone filter can be flushed without the remaining sections of the binding agent line being emptied have to. A pressure vessel with a gas cushion and / or an external water pressure connection can be connected to the flushing supply line. The cyclone filter can then also be built into a suction line and flushed while the pump is in operation. The suction line is a line section which is arranged upstream of a pump in the direction of flow. Placing a filter in the suction line ensures that the binder is filtered before it reaches the pump. This can extend the operating time of the pump. To flush the cyclone filter, either the pump is stopped and flushing medium is supplied via the flushing feed line from the pressure vessel or the external water pressure connection, or if the cyclone filter is installed on the suction side, the flow of binder through the cyclone filter is stopped and the cyclone filter is backwashed.

In conventional devices for avoiding dust, large amounts of water are discharged locally in order to then be distributed over a large area by vehicles. In known systems, such a distribution is often essential for the success of dust avoidance. With the invention, however, binding agent can automatically be distributed evenly over large areas. by vehicles is not necessary here, since the invention works in a self-distributing manner or has a self-distribution.

The dust binding devices explained above can be used to bind dust, it being possible for the individual aspects to be used separately or in combination.

Such a dust binding device can be used to generate an artificial mist, in which case the dust is bound in the air.

A dust binding device can also be used for wetting a floor, in which case the dust is bound to the floor and can no longer be whirled up into the air.

In such a method for binding dust, the binders are preferably discharged at intervals with spray phases and pause phases.

The spray phases and the pause phases are used for wetting a soil

at least 2 minutes or 5 minutes, preferably at least 10 minutes. The spray phases preferably last no longer than an hour and in particular no longer than 30 minutes. The pause phases can last about the same length as the spray phases. The pause phases can, however, also be longer and in particular a multiple of the spray phases.

When generating an artificial mist, the duration of the spray phases and the pause phases is preferably not more than 120 seconds and in particular not more than 30 seconds. The duration of the spray phases and the pause phases can last a few seconds. When generating an artificial mist, the spraying phases are preferably longer than the pause phases. The pause phase is chosen to be so short that there is no or only a very small gap between successive clouds of fog. The slower the air flow in which the artificial fog or the artificial fog cloud is located, the longer the pause phase can be. The larger the mist droplets, the faster they sink and the shorter the corresponding pause phases have to be set. With a droplet size of approximately 100 µm to 200 µm, the pause phase is preferably no greater than 5 seconds. In the case of a mist in which the droplets predominantly have a droplet size of less than 100 μm, the pause phase can also be set longer. If it is desired to use as little binding agent as possible, e.g. In order to avoid soil wetting, it is also possible to keep the spraying phases as short as possible and to extend the break phases. This has to be determined empirically.

With the dust-binding devices explained above, it is even possible to set and operate very short break phases of 1 to 3 seconds. The measures explained above, such as elastic storage capacity in a pressure vessel or in elastic lines and / or the provision of pressure control valves in or close to the atomizing nozzles, are advantageous for such a rapidly switching interval operation, since this makes them even with a strand with a length of at least 50 meters and in particular at least 200 meters such an interval operation is possible.

When generating an artificial mist, the spray phase is preferably longer than the pause phase. The spray phase can in particular be twice as long as the break phase or a multiple thereof.

To avoid puddling, the dust binding device is operated so that the binding agent at a rate of not more than 6 l / m? H and preferably not more than 4 l / m'h and preferably not more than 3 l / m * h is operated. If the floor is sealed, then these spray rates are even lower and are preferably no more than 1.2 l / m '? H or no more than 1 l / m? H and preferably no more than 0.8 l / m' H.

The dust binding device for generating an artificial mist is preferably operated so that the binding agent is sprayed into an area which is so far from the dust source that the air flow in this area is not greater than 1 m / s, in particular not greater is than 0.8 m / s and preferably not greater than 0.7 m / s. It is particularly advantageous if the air flow is not greater than 0.5 m / s.

[00144] The invention is explained below by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings. The drawings show schematically in:

Figure 1 shows a dismantling point with a device for binding dust in plan view,

FIG. 2 shows a wiring diagram of the device for binding dust from FIG. 1, [00147] FIG. 3 shows an upright arrangement of atomizing nozzles in a side view, [00148] FIG. 4 shows a spray area of the nozzles from FIG. 3,

[00149] FIG. 5 atomizing nozzles on a hanging binder line, schematically, roughly simplified in a perspective view,

FIG. 6 shows a spray area of the nozzles from FIG. 5 schematically in plan view,

Figure 7 shows a device for generating a smoke screen schematically in a side view,

[00152] FIG. 8 shows a cable arrangement for mounting a hanging pipe system,

[00153] FIG. 9 shows a further cable arrangement for mounting a hanging pipe system,

[00154] FIG. 10 line diagram of a further device for binding dust, [00155] FIG. 11 a volume flow measurement in the branch line,

[00156] FIG. 12 shows a branch line with a check valve for releasing pressure zones, and

FIG. 13 shows a section of a device for binding dust with a well pipe.

The device according to the invention is used to bind dusts of various origins, in particular mineral dusts, plastic dusts, wood dusts, and air pollutants by means of precisely applied binding agents. “Dust” in the sense of the present invention are all solid and liquid particles in an atmosphere that can be removed from the atmosphere with a binder or that can be bound to the ground with a binder so that they do not get into the atmosphere. In addition to solid particles, dust can also contain aerosols or vapors.

The binder is preferably water. As a rule, the water is used without further additives, in particular without wetting agents. It can only be useful to add an antifreeze agent in winter operation. The water can be drawn from different sources, for example wells, drinking water pipes, cisterns or the like. If the water contains impurities, it is advisable to use a filter. The pore size of the filter should not be larger than 200 µm, preferably not larger than 150 µm. It may also be appropriate to use filters with a pore size of 130 µm.

A first embodiment of a dust binding device 1 for a mining site is shown in FIG. The mining site can be a gravel works for mining gravel or a quarry for mining stones. In the present exemplary embodiment, the excavation site is a gravel works. The gravel works has an unpaved driveway 2, which leads via a ramp 3 into a gravel pit 4.

This gravel pit 4 has a sieve device 5 and a conveyor belt section 6. The conveyor belt section 6 extends from a feed hopper 7, which is located in the gravel pit 4, to a processing building 8, which is located outside the gravel pit 4. The conveying path 6 is formed from several conveyor belts, two adjacent conveyor belts each forming a transition point 9 at which the gravel to be transported falls from one conveyor belt onto another conveyor belt.

The sieve device 5, the feed hopper 7 and the transition point 9 of the conveyor belt section 6 form strong sources of dust. In gravel pits and quarries, all places where gravel or stones are moved and poured are potentially intense sources of dust. Other sources of dust are, for example, stone crushers, silos and piles of gravel or stone piled up with conveyor belts as well as manipulation areas.

Furthermore, dust is whirled up by vehicles driving along the ramp 3 and the driveway 2.

Whether a certain area is to be assessed as a source of dust to which the dust has to be bound also depends on the requirements for dust purity in the adjacent neighborhood. In the gravel works shown in FIG. 1, there are agricultural areas, such as meadows or fields, adjacent to the lower edge in FIG. 1 and the right edge of the gravel works. Provide such agricultural land

high demands on dust cleanliness, because grass contaminated with dust or field crops contaminated with dust are impaired in their quality and reduce the benefit considerably. In the gravel works shown in Figure 1, there are industrial areas adjacent to the top and left edge, which are only slightly sensitive to dust.

In order to meet these different requirements for dust formation and sensitivity to dust, the dust binding device 1 comprises a wetting device 10 for wetting the driveway 2 and the ramp 3 with binding agent, several local fog shielding units 11 and two fog walls 12.

The fog shielding units 11 are provided for shielding the local dust sources in the gravel pit 4. The smoke screens 12 are located in Figure 1 at the lower and right edge of the gravel pit 4 in order to prevent the transfer of dust from the gravel pit 4 to the neighboring agricultural areas.

The wetting device 10 has next to the track 2 on both sides extending pipe sections 13/1 and 13/2. These pipe sections 13/1 and 13/2 are stiff pipes 13 laid on the floor (FIG. 3), at which a vertical upright pipe 14 branches off at regular intervals (e.g. every 5 to 10 m, preferably every 6 to 8 m) . The standpipes 14 each have a length of 0.5 to 2 m. At its upper, free end there is an atomizing nozzle 15 on each standpipe 14. A manually operated shut-off valve, in particular a ball valve, is arranged on the standpipe 14 adjacent to the atomizing nozzle 15, with which the water supply to each individual atomizing nozzle 15 can be switched on or off separately.

Preferably, the atomizing nozzles 15 are designed as pressure nozzles which only open automatically from a predetermined opening pressure and close automatically below a predetermined closing pressure. This ensures, on the one hand, that the binder only emerges when it is applied to the atomizing nozzle 15 with a pressure sufficient for atomization. Furthermore, the automatic closing of the atomizing nozzles 15 ensures that the standpipe 14 and the pipe section 13 do not empty when the wetting device 10 is not in operation. This avoids refilling the pipe sections 13 and the standpipes 14, whereby on the one hand the risk of pressure surges can be reduced considerably and on the other hand operation can be permitted without any appreciable time delay. In addition, this prevents unevenness in the application of the binding agent, as can occur when the pipe runs partially or completely empty. The atomizing nozzles 15 are designed in such a way that the binding agent is atomized with a droplet size corresponding to a fine spray. The droplet size is subject to a certain distribution, with the majority of the droplets having a droplet size of at least 100 µm, preferably at least 150 µm or at least 200 µm. They generate a fine spray that is evenly semicircular or circular over a predetermined area (Figure 1) can be distributed like a segment of a circle (for example a segment of a circle with 90 ° or 125 ° or) or angular.

The proportion of binder that evaporates during spraying is low. The droplets can be sprayed from the atomizing nozzle 15 to a distance of about 5 to 12 m. The atomizing nozzles 15 are designed with a semicircular spray pattern and are arranged in such a way that they cover the adjacent driveway 2 with this spray pattern (FIG. 4). To wet an approximately 5 m wide strip over a distance of 100 m, approximately 2 to 4 m? Binder discharged per hour. The operating pressure at the nozzle is around 2.5 to 4.5 bar in order to ensure that the spray spreads reliably. In practice it has been shown that an interval operation with a spray time of about 5 to 15 minutes and a break of about 5 to 30 minutes, the break at least as long as the spray time, leads to efficient wetting. The break times are preferably automatically adapted to the weather conditions. The hotter and drier the ambient air, or the more wind there is, the shorter the breaks should be chosen.

The control of the spray time for wetting a soil can also be dependent on

of the subsurface. A sealed floor such as an asphalt floor cannot absorb a significant amount of binding agent. In the case of the sealed floor, therefore, interval operation with a spraying time of about 5 to 15 minutes and a break of about 5 to 30 minutes without intensive pre-wetting is preferred.

If, on the other hand, the floor is not sealed, then it usually has a porosity which can store binding agent and which can release the stored amount of binding agent. The bottom then forms a binder reservoir similar to a sponge. In the case of the unsealed floor, intensive pre-wetting is preferably carried out first, which lasts at least 30 minutes, preferably at least 45 minutes and in particular at least 1 hour, the binder being released at a rate of 1 to 3 l / m *. Thereafter, an interval operation with short spray times of about 2.5 to 10 minutes at a rate of 1 to 3 / m? and breaks of about 5 to 30 minutes are made to replace the binder released from the floor.

[00172] The control of the spray times is preferably carried out automatically by means of a central control device. The central control device can automatically set the spray times as a function of predetermined weather parameters (amount of precipitation, temperature, wind speed, air humidity, intensity of solar radiation). The weather parameters can be supplied by means of suitable weather sensors (thermometer, wind measuring device, precipitation measuring device) or weather data available via the Internet.

In addition to the weather parameters mentioned above, the soil moisture can also be measured and taken into account when controlling the spraying time. Taking the soil moisture into account is particularly useful in the case of dust binding devices which wet the soil with binding agents to avoid dust. These dust-binding devices are mainly used on porous floors on which dust can be whirled up. Depending on the porosity, these soils have a different capacity for absorbing water. Accordingly, the threshold values for soil moisture must be determined and set empirically. The measurement of soil moisture can also be useful in the case of dust-binding devices that generate mist. Here it is primarily determined by measuring the soil moisture whether too much moisture has reached the ground and whether there is a risk of puddles forming.

The weather parameters given above and / or the soil moisture are preferably combined in such a way that they are a measure of evaporation. The stronger the evaporation, the longer the spraying times are automatically regulated or the more frequently it is sprayed. The evaporation rate can for example be represented by the combination of humidity, wind speed, temperature and intensity of solar radiation. The control of the spray times is preferably carried out in such a way that the evaporated moisture is tracked as precisely as possible.

Such a control device serves to ensure adequate dust binding and, on the other hand, to keep the need for binding agent, in particular the need for water, as low as possible. This control device is shown here for an exemplary embodiment for wetting the soil with binding agent. Such a control device can equally be used for binding the dust by means of artificial mist.

[00176] The maximum length of such a wetting device is approximately 500 m. If longer stretches are to be wetted, then several such wetting devices can be provided in succession.

A hanging wetting device 10/2 is provided along the ramp 3. The hanging wetting device 10/2 comprises a thin suspension cable 16, which is a steel cable, a binding agent line 17, pipe hooks 18 with which the binding agent line 17 is suspended from the suspension cable 16, flexible branch lines 19 and atomizing nozzles 20. The atomizing nozzles 20 are similar to the atomizing nozzles 15 trained. However, they have a fully circular spray pattern, so that the wetting device 10/2 is positioned centrally above the ramp 3

can be and the ramp completely or at least almost completely covers the spray pattern. A flexible branch line 19 with an atomizing nozzle 20 is arranged on the binding agent line 17 approximately every 5 to 7 m. Adjacent to the atomizing nozzle 20 is a stabilizer 52 on the flexible branch line 19, which surrounds the branch line 19 and, due to its weight, ensures that the flexible branch line 19 hangs downwards and is at least vertically aligned with its lower section. As a result, the flexible branch line 19 positions and adjusts itself automatically, even if the entire wetting device 10/2 is moved due to external circumstances, such as for example wind. The atomizing nozzles 20 are again preferably designed as pressure nozzles which open from a predetermined opening pressure and close automatically from a predetermined closing pressure. The opening pressure is in the range from 1.5 to 4 bar. The closing pressure is slightly lower in each case. The maximum length of the wetting device 10/2 is about 500 m. The wetting device 10/2 is preferably operated at intervals of 10 to 15 minutes with pause times of 10 to 30 minutes. The wetting device 10/2 is preferably arranged at a height of at least 5 to 6 m above the ground. The binder line 17 is preferably formed from a plastic pipe, in particular a polyethylene pipe. It has an inside pipe diameter of 16 to 40 mm, for example.

The fog shielding units 11 are basically the same as the hanging wetting device 10/2 with a support cable 16, a binding agent line 17, pipe hooks 18, flexible branch lines 19 and atomizing nozzles 21 (FIG. 5). The atomizing nozzles 21 of the mist shielding units 11 differ from the atomizing nozzles 20 of the wetting device 10 in that they spray the binding agent much finer, i.e. with a droplet size of 30 to 120 µm. The droplet size is preferably 50 to 100 µm, in particular 60 to 90 µm. Such fine droplets form a mist that gradually settles on the ground. Such fine droplets cannot be sprayed as far as the larger droplets of the wetting device 10 explained above. The maximum range here is about 1.5 m. It is usually between 0.8 and 1.3 m. The atomizing nozzles 21 with their flexible branch lines 19 are arranged at a distance of 0.7 to 1.5 m, in particular a distance of 0.9 to 1.2 m, on the binding agent line 17. In order to provide a particularly dense fog, it can also be expedient to arrange two fog shielding units 11 in parallel next to one another, the binder lines 17 being arranged at a distance of 1 to 2 m from one another. The nozzles of the two fog shielding units 11 are then preferably arranged offset from one another in the longitudinal direction.

The binder line 17 is preferably made of a flexible plastic such as e.g. Soft polyethylene, trained. Holes can be punched in such a binder line 17 in order to connect the branch lines 19. This can also be done later after the entire installation of the system, which makes it possible to provide a plurality of atomizing nozzles 20 locally on a line if necessary. If a particularly dense mist is required locally, the distance between the atomizing nozzles can be reduced to 0.5 m or 0.25 m or even 0.1 m. It is equally possible to subsequently remove atomizing nozzles 21 or a branch line 19 together with the corresponding atomizing nozzle 21 and to close the corresponding opening with a plug. This allows changes to be made to the system at a later date. This is particularly advantageous if, due to changed circumstances, there is a different need for fog. Such changes are always possible if the binding agent line is made of a plastic into which corresponding holes can be punched or pierced. This applies equally to a hanging system as well as to a floor-mounted system in which the corresponding binding agent line is laid on the floor.

The use of elastic plastic pipes as the pipe 17 also brings about the following additional advantages:

[00181] Due to the elasticity of the plastic pipes, linear expansions can easily be absorbed. Therefore, these devices can be easily installed and operated over long distances from 500 m up to 5 km. With steel pipes that would exist

Danger of longer expansions due to temperature fluctuations, which lead to leaks at the joints.

[00182] - The plastic pipes are insensitive to the weather. In the event of a storm, they yield elastically and return to their original position after the storm.

- In a hanging system, the assembly on the steel support cable 16 is very easy by fixing the binder line 17 by means of the pipe hook 18. For permanent support of the binder line 17, a steel cable with a diameter of 5 to 8 mm is sufficient. Supports for tensioning the steel cable can be provided at intervals of 50 to 150 m so that large areas can be spanned and the supports do not interfere with operations below.

- The device can be variably supplemented by further nozzles or nozzles can be removed afterwards.

The operating pressure is about 3 to 6 bar. The higher the operating pressure, the finer the droplets and the better the ability of the mist to float in air, which is also associated with greater susceptibility to wind. Here, too, it is possible to use the above-mentioned pressure nozzles with predetermined opening and closing pressures.

Such a fog shielding unit 11 can be operated in continuous operation. However, it can also be expedient to operate such a fog shielding unit with very short pulses of 1 second to 120 seconds and correspondingly short pauses of 1 second to 120 seconds, since the ability of the fog to float provides a permanent wall of smoke even with such pulsed operation can. With such a pulsed operation, the consumption of binding agent can be reduced considerably without the ability to bind dust being impaired. Such a pulsed operation is particularly advantageous in locations where there are no or only very little air currents.

The fog walls 12 are designed in the same way as the fog shielding units 11, but they comprise one or more parallel binder lines, which extend over a longer distance and are continuously provided with atomizing nozzles 21 at regular intervals. The binder lines 17 can also be arranged vertically one above the other (FIG. 7), so that a smoke wall is formed with a height of a few meters. In the exemplary embodiment shown in FIG. 7, seven binder lines 17 are arranged one above the other at a distance of 1 m each, so that a smoke wall with a height of seven meters is formed.

Both the fog shielding unit 11 and the fog wall 12 are arranged with respect to a dust source in such a way that the fog is not generated at the dust source but rather at a distance from the dust source. At the point of origin of the dust, there is usually a strong air current that stirs up the dust. Applying mist to such a dust generation site would only lead to the mist being moved away from it again due to the air flow and a large proportion of the binding agent would have no effect. Therefore, the mist is placed adjacent to the dust generation point in a place where the air is calm. Here the dust can be bound much more efficiently. The air flow is preferably limited to a maximum of 1 m / s, in particular 0.8 m / s or 0.7 m / s and preferably to a maximum of 0.5 m / s. The distance between the area in which the artificial fog is located and the location where the dust is generated is therefore selected so that this limit value is adhered to.

[00189] The fog shielding units 11 are preferably designed so that they enclose the dust source as completely as possible. If the dust source is already shielded by a mechanical wall, then it can also be useful to design the fog shield so that its ends end flush with this wall and thus, together with the wall, surrounds the dust source and in particular the removal of the dust along the wall and moreover prevented. The fog shielding unit thus forms a wall closure.

The mist wall 12 preferably has a channel 22 for collecting the mist droplets. The water collected in this way is directed to a tank 23, from which it is pumped back into the binding agent line 17 of the smoke screen by means of a pump 24. The binding agent is thus transported in the circuit. At one point in this circuit, a filter 25 is provided with which the dust particles are removed from the water. Alternatively, the water once used can of course also be discarded, in which case no filter has to be provided.

The dust binding device 1 has a central binding agent source 26, which can be, for example, a well (FIG. 2). The binder is preferably pure water. The water is drawn off from the binder source 26 by means of a pump 27. In a line section 28, which extends from the binding agent source 26 to the pump 27, there is a manual shut-off valve 29 and a check valve 30, which prevents the water from flowing back into the binding agent source 26 in the event of a pump failure. On the outflow side of the pump 27, a main line 31 leads to the wetting device 10, to the fog shielding units 11/1 and 11/2 and to the fog walls 12/1 and 12/2. A main line branches off from the main line 31 to the wetting device 10, to the fog shielding units 11/1, 11/2 and to the fog walls 12/1 and 12/2. Switching valves 32/1 to 32/5, which can be individually actuated by a central control device 38, are arranged on the main strands. The water supply to the individual main lines can be switched on and off with the switching valves 32/1 to 32/5. By actuating the switching valve 32/1, the intermittent operation with a spraying time of about 5 to 15 minutes and a pause of about 5 to 30 minutes on the wetting device 10 and by actuating the switching valves 32/2 to 32/5 can be on the fog shielding units 11 / 1 and 11/2 or on the smoke screens 12/1 and 12/2, the short pulses of 1 to 120 seconds with correspondingly short pauses of 1 to 120 seconds are carried out.

A wetting device 10 branches the main strand into two sub-strands for the lying wetting device 10/1 and the hanging wetting device 10/2. A pressure reducer 33/1, 33/2 is arranged in each of the two branches at the beginning, which reduces the pressure provided by the pump 27 to the operating pressure of the respective wetting device 10/1 or 10/2. A pressure reducer 33 is also arranged in each of the main strands of the fog shielding units 11/1, 11/2 and the fog walls 12/1 and 12/2 in order to set the operating pressure suitable for the respective atomizing nozzles 21 here as well. Instead of the pressure reducers, further pumps can also be provided, which then generate a higher pressure especially for the fog shielding units 11/1, 11/2 so that the operating pressure of the main pump 27 can be reduced. This is therefore a further, decentralized binder feed.

The wetting device 10 and the individual fog shielding units 11/1, 11/2 and the individual smoke screens 12/1 and 12/2 can be operated independently of one another. A branch line 34 branches off from the main line of the mist shielding unit 11/1, with which the screen device 5 is enclosed. The atomizing nozzles 21 are arranged at a predetermined distance of 0.5 to 1.5 m from the sieve device 5, which forms a strong dust source, so that a wall of mist is formed around the dust source at this distance. In a corresponding manner, further branch lines 35, 36, 37 are provided on the second mist shielding unit 11/2 in order to enclose the feed hopper 7 and the transition points 9 at a suitable distance.

The line section 28 can also be designed as a well line (Figure 13). The well conduit 28 extends deep into the ground through a vertical well bore 58. A deep pump 59 is arranged in the well bore 58 instead of the pump 27 and is coupled to the well line 28 in order to pump water from the well bore 58 into the dust binding device 1. In the above-ground area of the line section, a branch line 60 is provided which branches off from the line section 28 and has a drain opening 61. In branch line 60 there is a control valve 62 which can be activated by a central control device.

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Instead of the vertical well bore 58, a shaft or a concrete underground storage facility can also be provided.

When the pump 59 is switched on, the control valve 62 is gradually closed over a predetermined time interval. As a result, a pressure is built up gradually in the line section 28 by the pump 59 rather than suddenly, since initially part of the water or the binding agent in the branch line 60 exits through the control valve 62 from the drain opening 61.

When the pump is switched off, the control valve 62 is gradually opened, whereby the pressure in the line section 28 is gradually reduced and counteracts a pressure surge. A control valve is preferably opened shortly before the pump is switched off, so that when the pump is switched off there is already a reduced pressure in the line section 28, which reduces the risk of a pressure shock. The control valve 62 can also be designed as an automatically opening pressure control valve which opens from a predetermined opening pressure. This opening pressure is greater than the operating pressure. In the event of a sudden failure of the pump 59, a pressure peak is generated in the line section 28, which is diverted via the pressure control valve 62, which opens automatically. Several successive pressure peaks can occur as a result of reflections, which are derived one after the other via the branch line 60. It is also possible that this or another valve opens suddenly in the event of a pump failure, on the one hand to divert pressurized binding agent immediately or to enable a discharge for the following pressure peak - it is already open before the pressure peak occurs - so there is no need to detect it Pressure peak occur through the valve. It is also possible for this valve or another valve to allow air or other media to flow in, in order to counteract the development of a cavitation shock.

In principle, it is also possible to provide two separate branch lines, a control valve controllable by the central control device being provided in one branch line and an automatically opening pressure control valve being provided in the other branch line. Only a single branch line can also be provided, in which the automatically opening pressure control valve is arranged.

Figure 8 shows masts with tension ropes 56 for fixing the carrying ropes 16. The carrying ropes can also be on any other elevation, e.g. a building 57 can be fixed directly (FIG. 9).

Figure 10 shows the wiring diagram of a second embodiment of the dust binding device 1. The same parts as in the first embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals and designed in exactly the same way as in the first embodiment, which is why a detailed description of these parts can be omitted.

This dust binding device 1 in turn comprises a binding agent source 26 or binding agent reservoir, a pump 27 which conveys binding agent, in particular water, from the binding agent source 26 via a line section 28. A manual shut-off valve 29 and a check valve 30 are located in the line section 28. Furthermore, a filter 39 is arranged in the line section 28. The filter can be provided with a filter medium which has a pore size of 130 µm. However, a filter without a filter medium, such as a cyclone filter, can be provided.

From the pump 27, a main line 31 leads to a wetting device and / or to a fog shielding unit or a fog wall. These devices each have at least one conduit with one or more atomizing nozzles. For this reason, these devices are generally referred to below as nozzle line 40. The second exemplary embodiment has two such nozzle lines 40, each of which begins with a switching valve 32. A pressure vessel with a gas cushion 41 is connected to the line 31 leading to the nozzle branches 40. A thin supply line 42 and a thick discharge line 43 lead from the line 31 to the pressure vessel with gas cushion 41. In the discharge line 43 there is a non-return valve 44 which is arranged in such a way that water flows out of the pressure vessel with gas cushion 41

can only flow in the direction of the line 31 through the discharge line 43.

If the pressure vessel with gas cushion 41 is filled with water, then this water flows exclusively through the thin supply line 42. When emptying the pressure vessel with gas cushion, the water can both through the discharge line 43 and through the supply line 42 into line 31 and from flow there to the nozzle strands 40. The discharge line 43 preferably has a diameter that is at least twice and in particular four times as large as the supply line 42. However, it is also possible that the supply line 42 only acts as a supply line when it is e.g. contains a throttle body that is only continuous in one direction.

By providing the thin supply line 42 and the thick discharge line 43, the emptying of the pressure vessel with gas cushion can be done much faster than the filling of the same.

In line 31 there is a switching valve 45 which is controlled by the central control device 38. The switching valve is arranged after the pressure vessel with gas cushion 41 in the direction of flow. The switching valve 45 has several opening positions, so that a different opening cross-section can be set by means of the switching valve 45. The opening cross-section can be changed in several stages or also continuously.

In the area between the switching valve 45 and the nozzle branches 40, a volume flow meter 46 is arranged, which is connected to the central control device 38 and this transmits the current volume flow. Another volume flow measuring device 48 is arranged in at least one of the nozzle branches 40.

At the end of one of the nozzle lines 40, a switching valve 47, which can be controlled by the central control device 38, is provided for emptying the nozzle line 40.

Unless otherwise stated below, this dust binding device 1 of the second embodiment works exactly like that of the first embodiment by sucking water from the binder source 26 with the pump 27, feeding it to the nozzle strands 40 and controlling it by the switching valves 32 over there Atomizing nozzles (not shown in Figure 10) is issued.

The switching valve 47 at the end of one of the nozzle branches 40 has two functions. If this dust-binding device 1 is to be operated in winter, then, if there is a risk of frost, the nozzle assembly 40 can be emptied by opening the switching valve 47 and conveying air into the switching assembly 40. The air can be provided by means of a compressed air source or a suitable pump. If the binding agent or the water contains impurities, then these usually collect at the end area of the nozzle lines 40. These impurities can be flushed out by opening the switching valve 47 and rinsing the nozzle line 40 with water.

Both the emptying of the nozzle line 40 and the flushing of the nozzle line 40 is controlled by the central control device 38.

The pressure vessel with gas cushion 41 can be a membrane vessel which has a membrane which divides the membrane vessel into a gas pressure space and a binder space. When the pressure vessel is filled with gas cushion 41, the gas in the gas pressure space is compressed, as a result of which the pressure in the pressure vessel with gas cushion 41 increases. If one or more nozzle branches 40 are emptied, then they must be completely refilled before operation can be started. With the pressure vessel with gas cushion 41, a large volume of binding agent can be made available quickly. Due to the large cross section that is available when the binding agent is discharged from the pressure vessel with gas cushion through the discharge line 43 and the supply line 42, the binding agent can be conveyed to the nozzle lines 40 quickly, i.e. with a high volume flow. A rapid delivery of binding agent or water into the not completely filled nozzle lines harbors the risk of a pressure shock which occurs when the respective nozzle line is completely filled. In this regard, the use of the pressure vessel with gas cushion 41 is advantageous because when the binding agent is conveyed away

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In the pressure vessel with gas cushion, the gas pressure space expands, as a result of which the pressure in the pressure vessel with gas cushion 41 decreases and decreases with increasing discharge from the pressure vessel. This means that at the beginning the binding agent is conveyed from the pressure vessel 41 at a high pressure in the direction of the nozzle strands 40, this pressure and thus the flow rate decreasing. This slightly reduces the risk of a pressure surge. At the same time, a large amount of binding agent is made available very quickly from the pressure vessel with gas cushion 41 at the beginning of the conveyance, so that emptied nozzle strands 40 can be quickly refilled.

If the lines are elastic plastic lines, then these lines also form a binder buffer. When operation starts, the “buffer” of the lines is first filled from the pressure vessel, which counteracts a pressure surge when the line is filled quickly. The combination of a pressure vessel with a gas cushion and elastic plastic lines is therefore particularly advantageous.

In operation, states very rarely occur in which the pressure vessel is completely filled with gas cushion or completely emptied. Rather, the pressure vessel with the gas cushion is mostly partially filled and partially emptied, so that it can quickly and reliably compensate for fluctuations in the binder requirement during operation without the risk of pressure surges.

With the volume measuring device 46, the volume flow supplied by the pump 27 and the pressure vessel with gas cushion 41 through the line 31 is measured. The control device, which detects this volume flow, can use this volume flow to set the pumping capacity of the pump 27 and / or the opening cross-section of the switching valve 45. If a maximum permissible volume flow is exceeded, the pumping capacity of the pump 27 can be reduced and / or the opening cross-section of the switching valve 45 can be reduced, whereby both the volume flow from the pressure vessel with gas cushion 41 and the volume flow generated by the pump 27 can be controlled. Since the pressure vessel with gas cushion 41 is connected to the line 31 in the area between the pump 27 and the switching valve 45, the pressure in this line section can be controlled by the pumping power of the pump 27 and the open position of the switching valve 45 so that water in the Pressure vessel with gas cushion 41 flows when the pressure in this line section is greater than in the pressure vessel with gas cushion 41 and water is withdrawn from the pressure vessel with gas cushion 41 when the pressure in this line section is lower than in the pressure vessel with gas cushion 41. In normal operation, an equilibrium is established between these two pressures, so that the filling level of the pressure vessel with gas cushion 41 remains constant. Because the feed line 42 has a small cross-section, the volume flow when filling the pressure vessel with gas cushion 41 is correspondingly small, so that even with a slightly filled pressure vessel with gas cushion 41 and with not yet completely filled nozzle branches 40, it is possible to use the main part of the with the pump 27 to direct the volume flow to the nozzle branches 40. However, if the pressure vessel with gas cushion 41 is filled with binding agent or water, then a large amount of water can quickly be supplied to the nozzle branches 40 by opening the switching valve 45.

[00215] Preferably 40 fill level sensors (not shown) are arranged in the nozzle branches. The nozzle strands 40 can each have a fill level sensor at their end regions. They can be distributed over their length, but also have several level sensors. The fill level sensors are connected to the central control device 38, so that the central control device 38 can detect the fill levels of the nozzle branches 40. The filling levels can also be taken into account when controlling the open position of the switching valve 45 and the pumping capacity of the pump 27, and the more the nozzle strands are filled with binder, the more the volume flow or the flow rate is reduced.

The arranged in the nozzle line 40 volume flow meter 48 is used to monitor the functionality of this nozzle line. If this line of nozzles has a leak, for example, then the volume flow in this line of nozzles increases. It is detected by the volume flow meter 48. An error message can be issued

and at the same time, this line of nozzles can be switched off by means of the corresponding switching valve 32. If, on the other hand, one or more atomizing nozzles are blocked, the corresponding volume flow is reduced. This can also be determined by means of the volume flow measuring device 48 and a corresponding error message can be output. With the volume flow measuring device 48 arranged in one of the nozzle branches 40, excessively high volume flows can also be detected, which can cause a risk of water hammer. The total volume flow, which is controlled by means of the switching valve 45 and the pumping power of the pump 27, can then be correspondingly reduced on the basis of this recorded volume flow in one of the nozzle branches 40.

Such volume flow measuring devices 48 are preferably arranged in all nozzle branches 40 so that all nozzle branches 40 can be monitored individually.

Furthermore, with the volume flow measuring devices 46, 48, the volume flows in the dust binding device 1 can be recorded and logged. This makes it possible later to determine whether the dust binding device 1 was correctly in operation at a certain point in time.

The above-explained level sensors can also be designed as pressure switches which only output a signal from a predetermined pressure. This not only detects whether the nozzle strands 40 are filled with binding agent, but also that the filling has a certain pressure at the location of the corresponding pressure switch. The switching threshold of this pressure switch should be slightly lower than the operating pressure of the atomizing nozzles in the nozzle branches 40. Suitable threshold values for the pressure switches are preferably in the range from 1.5 bar to 3 bar.

With long nozzle strands 40, it may also be useful to provide atomizing nozzles with increasingly low operating pressure (opening pressure and closing pressure) as the distance from the binder source increases, since the pressure in the nozzle strand 40 can decrease with increasing distance. The individual atomizing nozzles thus have a low opening or closing pressure with increasing distance from the binding agent source 26. The pressure threshold of the pressure switches in the vicinity of the corresponding atomizing nozzles is to be adapted accordingly to the opening and closing pressure of these atomizing nozzles.

By means of pressure reducers, cross-sectional constrictions due to a reduction in the line cross-section, or by providing corresponding constrictions, the nozzle branches 40 can also be set in a targeted manner in pressure zones. The pressure zones can be formed, for example, with reduced pressure with increasing distance from the binder source 26, so that different but defined pressure conditions exist in the individual pressure zones. With such a pressure setting, a very high uniformity of application can be achieved. The pressure applied to the respective nozzles can be kept at a defined value over the long term, regardless of whether it is the first, the last or any nozzle in a line in between. The nozzles are preferably designed as pressure nozzles with a predetermined opening and / or closing pressure, as explained above.

The central control device 38 can be designed in such a way that it delays the switching on and off of the pump 27. This is particularly useful when the pumping power of the pump 27 cannot be adjusted gradually. Switching the pump 27 on and off can cause cavitation problems in the pump or its associated components and can each generate a pressure surge in the lines. If the switch-off is delayed by a predetermined period of time, then the operating states may have changed again in the meantime, so that the pump 27 should no longer be switched off. Such situations occur above all when the controlled variables, such as volume flow, fill level and / or pressure in the line 31 or in the nozzle branches 40 are each close to the corresponding threshold values and fluctuate around them. The dust binding device 1 is designed with a certain elasticity for the elastic buffering of binding agent, so that even when the threshold values are reached, it is still possible to continue operating the pump 27 and continue to convey a certain volume or, due to the elasticity present, binding agent without a pumping capacity To provide pump 27 for the nozzle strands 40. This

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Elasticity is provided, for example, by the pressure vessel with gas cushion 41. Furthermore, such an elasticity for the elastic buffering of binding agent can be provided by binding agent lines made of an elastic plastic material, in particular of polyethylene, since this material can stretch within certain capacities and absorb binding agent in an elastically yielding manner. Such a time delay in switching the pump 27 on and off in conjunction with the elastic buffering of binding agent can considerably extend the service life of the pump 27. This is particularly advantageous if the mist shielding unit 11 described above or the mist wall 12 described above are operated with very short spray pulses. These pulses can be controlled solely by switching the switching valves 32, and the pump 27 can be operated continuously.

In the present embodiment, the time delay in the central control device 38 is implemented. It is of course also possible to provide a separate time delay element, in particular a time delay relay, which delays the switching on and / or off of the pump 27 independently of the central control device 38.

Furthermore, one or more pressure sensors, which are connected to the central control device 38, can be provided in the main line 31 and / or in the nozzle branches 40. The pressure values detected with the pressure sensors can be used in a manner similar to the volume flows described above for controlling the volume flow in the main line 31 by means of the switching valve 45 and the pump 27. Here, the control valve 45 and the pumping power of the pump 27 are switched or changed when the measured pressure values exceed and / or fall below predetermined threshold values. Furthermore, predetermined safety threshold values can be provided which are greater than the threshold values for controlling normal operation. If the pressure values measured with the pressure sensors reach the safety threshold values, this is assessed as a safety problem by the central control device 38 and the pump 27 is completely switched off and / or safety valves (not shown) in the main line 31 and / or in the nozzle branches 40 are opened to remove binding agent to the outside, whereby the pressure in the dust binding device 1 can be reduced quickly and / or warning messages can be issued.

In the exemplary embodiment explained above (FIG. 10), the pump 27 is arranged between the check valve 30 and the pressure vessel 41. Within the scope of the invention, the pump 27 can of course also be arranged under water in the binder source 26.

Volume flow meters for measuring high volume flows are complex and expensive. It is therefore advisable to provide a secondary branch 49 (FIG. 11) to a main branch 50, especially in the areas of high volume flows, the secondary branch being a line with a smaller cross-section than the line of the main branch 50 and both ends opening into the main branch 50. The volume flow meter 51, which measures the volume flow through the secondary line 49, is arranged in the secondary branch 49. Since the volume flows through the main branch 50 and the secondary branch 49 in a certain ratio, which corresponds to the ratio of the cross section of the secondary branch 49 to the cross section of the main branch 50, the volume flow measured in the secondary branch 49 can be used to determine the entire volume flow through the secondary branch and the main branch getting closed. Such an arrangement of the volume flow device is particularly advantageous in the main line 31, since high volume flows are present here.

In order to ensure that there is actually a flow, an additional flow monitoring device can be provided in the main branch 50, which only indicates whether there is a flow or whether there is no flow. Such a flow monitoring device can e.g. with a baffle disk flow meter. This can be used to determine whether there is a flow in the main line, even if the secondary line is blocked.

It was explained above that the nozzle strands 40 can be divided into separate pressure zones by means of pressure reducers. Such pressure reducers 53 usually act like a check valve and only allow a flow from the side with higher pressure to the side

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lower pressure too. If, however, brief pressure peaks occur, they can reach the area with lower pressure or they can also arise directly in the low pressure area, for example through switching processes, and no longer escape from there, since water cannot flow back through the pressure reducer 53. It is therefore possible that the pressures in pressure zones are significantly higher than the normal operating pressure in the respective pressure zone. This can lead to damage.

If one sees to the line in which the pressure reducer 53 is located, a secondary branch 49 in which a check valve 54 is arranged, which allows a flow from the reduced pressure side of the pressure reducer 53 to the side with higher pressure, then such Pressure peaks escape from the pressure zones (Figure 12).

The central control device 38 can be connected to sensors or online weather services that detect the current weather (temperature, humidity, amount of precipitation (predicted and already fallen), wind speeds, wind direction, humidity, evaporation) and control the discharge of binding agent accordingly. It can also be expedient for the control device 38 to receive digital weather information in order to control the application of the binding agent accordingly. It has been shown, for example, that in summer, at the end of a cool night or in the morning, it makes sense to use a wetting device to wet the ground, since significantly less atomized water evaporates in cool air than later in the day when it is hotter. Such an intensive wetting makes sense, especially with unsealed floors. However, if the weather data indicates that rain is to be expected soon after a dry night, then intensive wetting shortly before the rain is superfluous. Such weather information is nowadays available with high precision and can be taken into account when controlling the discharge of the binding agent. This also allows the system output to be adapted to the weather. E.g. by changing the amount of precipitation by changing the wetting interval or by switching on or off one or more nozzles or nozzle branches. The amount of binding agent applied (per unit of time; either the amount applied per wetting pass or the cumulative application per day) can be changed and adjusted in a targeted manner.

The device can also be provided with sensors which detect vehicles and / or people, so that areas of the device are switched on or off in accordance with the output signals of these sensors. If, for example, vehicles or people are briefly in an area to be sprayed or provided with fog, the supply of binding agent can be temporarily switched off locally so that the vehicles or people are not sprayed. These sensors can be optical sensors, in particular cameras, or induction coils embedded in the floor for recognizing vehicles. The local switching off or on of areas can be carried out, for example, in a device in which the atomizing nozzles and / or certain pipe sections are provided with switchable valves or separate pumps.

However, sensors can also be provided with which the moisture in the soil, a mist and / or the formation of dust can be detected. These sensors can be humidity sensors or optical sensors such as cameras. Corresponding camera images can be automatically analyzed with optical image processing to determine whether the ground is moist, there is a fog in the atmosphere and / or a dust cloud is present. These optical sensors can be combined with special lighting devices that make the corresponding dust particles easily recognizable. The intensity of the dust binding can be controlled as a function of these sensor signals, whereby locally different intensities of the dust binding can also be set as a function of the sensor signals.

[00233] The operating states and / or the sensor signals are preferably logged and archived. In this way, on the one hand, the operation of the device can be documented and, on the other hand, the dust condition can be displayed if there are sensors which detect the dust condition.

Instead of an automatic control, recommendation messages can also be output to an operator on a corresponding output device (screen, loudspeaker)

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so that the operator of the device can trigger a corresponding dust binding.

Precipitation rates are explained below using examples of dust-binding devices according to the invention:

A dust binding device with an upright arrangement of several atomizing nozzles 15 according to FIG. 3 is designed to wet an approximately strip-shaped surface. The spray cones of these atomizing nozzles 15 are semicircular (FIG. 4). The radius of the spray cone is 6.4 m and the operating pressure is 3.5 bar. A single atomizing nozzle 15 sprays an area of approximately 64 m * ® and consumes approximately 190 liters of binder or water per hour of continuous operation. With continuous operation, the floor is wetted at around 3 liters per square meter per hour. In pulsed operation, the consumption of binding agent per hour can be reduced to approx. 50-70 liters per hour and nozzle. The atomizing nozzles 15 are arranged approximately at a distance of 7 m from one another.

Another embodiment of the atomizing nozzle 15 has a throw of 9 m at an operating pressure of 3.5 bar. Otherwise, this embodiment of the atomizing nozzle corresponds to the above-explained standing arrangement of atomizing nozzles according to FIGS. 3 and 4 with semicircular spray cones. The wetted area per nozzle is around 130 and the consumption of binding agent or water is around 470 liters per hour per nozzle. This results in a precipitation rate of about 3.6 liters per / m? per hour in continuous operation.

Runtime examples for a dust binding device according to the two embodiments explained above of an upright arrangement of atomizing nozzles 15 (FIGS. 3 and 4) are explained below:

On sealed floors, such as asphalt or concrete, the floor is moistened for 5 to 10 minutes in cool weather. This is followed by a break of one to several hours. In warm weather, the humidification takes place for a period of 5 to 20 minutes, with the pause then being half an hour to about 1 hour. In hot weather (air temperature> 20 ° C) the humidification time is 5 to 20 minutes and the pause time is reduced to 10 to 20 minutes.

The stronger the wind, the longer the humidification times and the shorter the break times.

Sealed floors can hardly store water. They therefore dry off quickly and require regular moistening, as otherwise drainage water is created.

In contrast to sealed soils, open natural soils such as gravel, crushed stone, sand can store water.

In cool weather (temperature <13 ° C.), humidification can be carried out in the morning for 0.5 to 1.5 hours, with no further humidification then taking place on the rest of the day. In warm weather (13 ° C <temperature <20 ° C), humidification of 0.5 to 1.5 hours takes place in the morning, whereby further humidification can then be carried out for a duration of about 10 to 20 minutes, each after breaks from 0.5 to 4 hours. The break time mainly depends on the storage capacity of the respective floor.

In hot weather (temperature> 20 ° C) there is humidification in the morning for a period of 1 to 1.5 hours. Further humidification for a duration of 20 to 45 minutes is carried out with pauses of 30 to 60 minutes in between. On very hot and especially windy days, continuous operation can also be useful.

The continuous moistening of the soil can lead to a noticeable drop in the ambient temperature. This particularly applies to gravel pits that are exposed to the sun and are protected from the wind. The humidification keeps the floor cool, which significantly reduces the radiant heat radiated from the floor.

In the following, examples are explained with reference to soil-wetting dust binding devices with hanging atomizing nozzles 20, as shown in FIGS. 5 and 6.

In a first embodiment, the throw is 4 meters and the throw cone forms a full circle. The operating pressure is in the range from 2 to 3 bar. The area wetted per atomizing nozzle 20 is approximately 50 m * and the consumption of binding agent is approximately 70 liters per hour and per nozzle.

[00248] This results in a precipitation rate of about 1.4 liters / m * in continuous operation.

In a second embodiment, the throw distance is 4.8 m, the throwing cone again forming a full circle. The operating tension is in the range from 1.5 to 4.5 bar. The wetted area is about 72 and the consumption is about 70 liters of binder per hour per atomizing nozzle. This results in a precipitation rate of around 0.97 liters per square meter. and h in continuous operation.

Typical run-time examples for a dust binding device with such hanging nozzles are explained below, these run-time examples applying to both types of nozzles:

In the case of sealed floors, such as asphalt or concrete, the floor is initially moistened for a period of 10 to 20 minutes in cool weather (temperature <13 ° C.). After a break of one to several hours, it is humidified again. In warm weather (13 ° C <temperature <20 ° C), humidification takes place for 10 to 30 minutes, with the pause between successive humidifications being around half an hour to a full hour. The further humidifications are carried out again over a period of about 10 to 30 minutes.

In hot weather (temperature> 20 °), the soil is moistened for a period of 10 to 30 minutes. The break times are around 20 to 30 minutes. The stronger the wind, the longer the humidification times and the shorter the break times are set.

In the case of open natural soils, such as gravel, crushed stone or sand, humidification takes place for 1 to 1.5 hours in the morning in cool weather (temperature <13 ° C.). No further humidification is carried out for the rest of the day. In warm weather (13 ° C 20 ° C), the morning is humidified for 1 to 1.5 hours and then further humidification for a period of 30 to 40 minutes. The breaks between the individual humidifications are 30 to 60 minutes. The stronger the wind, the longer the humidification times are set and the shorter the breaks. In hot weather and wind, it can also be useful to operate the dust-binding device continuously. Such a dust binding device with hanging nozzles can be formed, for example, from a binding agent line 17 with an inner diameter of 28 mm, with branch lines 19 with atomizing nozzles 20 being arranged at regular intervals (about 6 to 7 meters). For a section of the dust binding device with a length of 350 m and 59 atomizing nozzles, the consumption of 70 liters of binding agent per hour per nozzle and the total consumption being about 4.13 mh. The tube volume is 67 liters. This corresponds to 1.6% of the total consumption per hour. Such a small pipe volume can be filled quickly after a break or downtime. Filling can be done with a conventional standard pump without the need for a pressure vessel or pressure valve, which serves as a drain stop. In the case of a dust binding device with an upright arrangement of the atomizing nozzles, a pipe section with an inner diameter of 61.2 mm can be provided over a length of 500 m, for example. The pipe volume is then about 1470 liters. 72 atomizing nozzles are arranged every 7 m, each of which consumes 190 liters of binding agent per hour and per nozzle. The total consumption is therefore around 13.7 m * / h. The pipe volume is thus around 10% of the total consumption per hour. This means that if the pipe volume is completely emptied, it takes about 6 minutes for the pipe volume to reach 32/54

The stronger the wind, the longer the humidification times are set and the shorter the breaks. In hot weather and wind, it can also be useful to operate the dust-binding device continuously.

Such a dust binding device with hanging nozzles can be formed, for example, from a binding agent line 17 with an inner diameter of 28 mm, with branch lines 19 with atomizing nozzles 20 being arranged at regular intervals (about 6 to 7 meters). For a section of the dust binding device with a length of 350 m and 59 atomizing nozzles, the consumption of 70 liters of binding agent per hour per nozzle and the total consumption being about 4.13 mh. The tube volume is 67 liters. This corresponds to 1.6% of the total consumption per hour. Such a small pipe volume can be filled quickly after a break or downtime. Filling can be done with a conventional standard pump without the need for a pressure vessel or pressure valve, which serves as a drain stop.

In the case of a dust binding device with an upright arrangement of the atomizing nozzles, a pipe section with an inner diameter of 61.2 mm can be provided over a length of 500 m, for example. The pipe volume is then about 1470 liters. 72 atomizing nozzles are arranged every 7 m, each of which consumes 190 liters of binding agent per hour and per nozzle. The total consumption is therefore around 13.7 m * / h. The pipe volume is thus around 10% of the total consumption per hour. This means that if the pipe volume is completely emptied, it takes about 6 minutes for the pipe volume to begin to increase

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Binder is filled again when the binder is conveyed at a constant rate. The rapid filling of large volumes creates the risk of pressure surges, as already explained above. In such a dust binding device it is therefore advisable to provide a pressure vessel with a gas cushion, the useful volume of which corresponds approximately to the pipe volume. A pressure vessel with a useful volume of 1500 liters would therefore be useful here. Alternatively or additionally, a special pump, in particular a speed-regulated pump or a pump with a particularly high output, can be provided in order to quickly replenish the binding agent. Alternatively or in addition, self-locking pressure control valves or pressure nozzles can also be provided, which prevent or delay leakage.

The longer the dust-binding devices, the larger the inner diameter of the pipe section 13 is as a rule. With a line length of 1.6 km, for example, it makes sense to provide a pipe (hard PE) with an inner diameter of 130.8 mm. 189 atomizing nozzles (standing arrangement) are connected approximately every 8.5 m. They each have a consumption of 470 liters per hour and per nozzle. The total consumption is about 88.8 m * / h. The pipe volume is approx. 21 m®. This corresponds to about 25% of the consumption of binding agent per hour. With a constant delivery rate, refilling a completely emptied pipe volume would take approx. 15 minutes. Such a long delay is generally not acceptable. With such a large pipe volume, it is therefore recommended that the leakage or emptying is avoided or significantly delayed. This can be achieved by means of self-locking pressure control valves or pressure nozzles. In the case of a standing nozzle arrangement, however, this is not necessary if the dust-binding device runs approximately horizontally. In the case of dust-binding devices that extend over a height difference greater than the height of the standpipes 14, it is advisable to provide an automatically opening pressure control valve or a pressure nozzle on the lower-lying atomization nozzles. However, partial emptying can hardly be completely avoided in the case of longer idle times. It is therefore expedient to provide pressure vessels with gas cushions and / or flow throttling valves in the binding agent lines of a dust binding device with such a large pipe volume so that a predetermined maximum speed is not exceeded during refilling.

It can therefore be stated that when the pipe volume is low in relation to the regular consumption (pipe volume <3% of the binding agent consumption per hour), no special measures are required for refilling, whereas for larger pipe volumes, suitable measures (e.g. pressure vessel; self-locking pressure control valves or Pressure nozzle; special pumps) should be taken. With large pipe volumes (greater than 15% of the regular binding agent consumption per hour or, in particular, greater than 20% of the regular binding agent consumption per hour), the leakage or emptying of the binding agent line should be avoided or significantly delayed. Suitable measures for this are the provision of self-locking pressure control valves and pressure nozzles. In the case of dust binding devices with an upright arrangement, self-locking pressure control valves and pressure nozzles are not necessary if the dust binding device is arranged exactly in a horizontal plane. However, this is only very rarely the case, since the dust-binding devices according to the invention generally extend over long distances. The use of self-locking pressure control valves and pressure nozzles is, however, also advantageous because there is then always pressurized binding agent in the binding agent line and a quick start-up is therefore possible after a break.

In the following, examples are explained with reference to dust-binding devices which generate mist and which have hanging atomizing nozzles 21, as shown in FIGS. 5 and 6.

There are individual mist nozzles and individual nozzles combined to form a group of four.

The fog discharge width is about 80 cm per nozzle, measured horizontally directly at the nozzle. By the time the fog reached the ground, the fog had expanded to around 1.5 m.

The single nozzle consumes about 7.5 liters of binder per hour at an operating pressure of 4 bar, the 4-fold model about 30 liters per hour. With pulsed operation, this results in a consumption of around 0.002 liters per second or 0.008 liters per second.

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[00263] Such a dust binding device can also be designed as a low-flow dust binding device. Then the single nozzle consumes about 5.5 liters of binder per hour and the quadruple model about 22 liters of binder per hour (0.0015 l / sec. Or 0.006 l / sec.).

The individual nozzles are usually mounted at a distance of about 10 cm in the binder line, the 4-way nozzles at a distance of about 0.5 to 2 meters.

Since part of the mist evaporates, it is difficult to determine a precipitation rate for a mist-generating dust control device, since this depends greatly on the current climate.

Examples of runtimes are explained below:

CASE 1: DUST BINDING ON A STONE CRUSHER MACHINE

When the stone crusher machine is stationary, the dust binding is inactive. Fog is continuously generated when the stone crusher is in operation.

The stone crusher machine is provided on two sides with a fogging line, each of which has a length of 3 meters, the fogging line being located 1.7 meters away from the stone crusher machine.

The nozzle spacing is 1 meter, which means that six atomizing nozzles are provided. The operating pressure is 5 bar. The water consumption per hour (6 x 34 =) 204 liters / h in continuous operation.

CASE 2: HALL DUST CONTROL:

In a garbage sorting hall, several dust binding lines are attached to the ceiling of the hall at a distance of 2 meters, which have mist nozzles (4-fold) mounted every 1.5 meters. A total of 350 dust control nozzles are available, which have a water consumption of 11,900 liters per hour in continuous operation at an operating pressure of 5 bar.

Every 28 seconds a fog pulse of 2 seconds duration is generated. The mist emerges from the hall ceiling and falls down.

Each pulse consumes 6.6 liters of binder. This results in an effective binding agent consumption of around 800 liters per hour. That is only one fifteenth compared to continuous operation.

CASE 3: CONSTRUCTION VEHICLE

A dust-generating construction vehicle produces continuously dusty air during its operating time by whirling up ground dust, which rises from the ground and rolls around.

The side of the construction vehicle fog nozzles are attached to two sides at a distance of 1.5 meters above the ground. A total of ten mist nozzles with an hourly consumption of 300 liters at an operating pressure of 4 bar are installed.

In order to save water in mobile operation, the smoke system is operated in a pulsed manner. Fog is emitted for 1 second at a time, followed by a pause for 4 seconds.

Each mist pulse leads to a consumption of 0.08 liters of binder. In pulsed operation, this results in a binding agent consumption of 60 liters per hour. This means that only around a fifth of the binding agent is used compared to continuous fogging.

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REFERENCE LIST

1 dust binding device 33 pressure reducer

2 Route 34 branch line

3 Ramp 35 branch line

4 gravel pit 36 branch line

5 Sieve device 37 branch line

6 conveyor belt section 38 central control device 7 feed hopper 39 filter

8 processing building 40 nozzle line

9 Transition point 41 pressure vessel with gas cushion 10 wetting device 42 supply line

11 Fog shielding unit 43 Discharge line

12 smoke screen 44 check valve

13 pipe section 45 switching valve

14 Standpipe 46 Volume flow meter 15 Atomizing nozzle 47 Switching valve

16 Support rope 48 Volume flow meter 17 Binder line 49 Side line

18 pipe hook 50 main line

19 flexible branch line 51 volume flow meter 20 atomizing nozzle 52 stabilizer

21 Spray nozzle 53 Pressure reducer

22 gutter 54 check valve

23 tank 55 mast

24 pump 56 tension rope

25 filters 57 buildings

26 Binding agent source 58 Well drilling

27 Pump 59 Deep Pump

28 line section 60 branch line

29 Shut-off valve 61 Drain opening

30 check valve 62 control valve

31 management

32 switching valve

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Claims (1)

Claims 1. A device for binding dust comprising a binder reservoir which provides pressurized liquid binder, a binder line which is connected to the binder reservoir, wherein the binder line (17) is suspended from a support rope (16) and the binder line ( 17) is designed to be elastic, the binding agent line (17) being arranged approximately parallel to the supporting rope and being fastened to it at several points, characterized in that the binding agent line (17) comprises one or more flexible branch lines (19) which are connected by a main strand ( 50) of the binding agent line (17), which is fastened to the supporting cable (16), branch off, with at least one atomizing nozzle (20, 21) being arranged on each of the branch lines (19). 2. Device for binding dust according to claim 1, characterized in that at least one atomizing nozzle (20, 21) can be arranged in the vicinity of a dust source. 3. Device for binding dust according to claim 1 or 2, in which a floor is wetted with spray rain, characterized in that the binding agent line (17) extends over a distance of at least 100 m and along this distance several atomizing nozzles (20, 21 ) are connected to the binding agent line (17), and wherein the device is designed in such a way that no more than 6 l / m? h binding agent is discharged onto the floor during a spraying process. 4. Device according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the device is designed in such a way that no more than 3 l / m 2 h and preferably not more than 1.2 l / m 2 h of binder are discharged during a spraying process .) 5. Device for binding dust according to one of claims 1 to 4, characterized, that the binding agent line (17) has one or more pressure control valves which open as pressure switching valves from a predetermined switching pressure and thus release a supply of binding agent to the atomizing nozzle (s) (20, 21) or as pressure regulating valves also open from a predetermined switching pressure and at the same time increase the pressure regulate the outflow side of the pressure control valve to a predetermined pressure range, and that the binder reservoir comprises at least one pressure vessel with a gas cushion (41) which is divided into a gas pressure space and a binder space. 6. Device according to one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the binding agent line (17) (17) is fastened to the supporting cable (16) by means of pipe hooks (18). 7. Device according to one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that the binding agent line (17) extends over a distance of at least 100 m or at least 300 m and several atomizing nozzles (20, 21) are connected to the binding agent line ( 17) are connected, the device preferably being designed in such a way that no more than 6 l / m? H of binding agent is discharged onto the floor during a spraying process. 8. Device according to one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that 36/54 10. 11.4 12. 13. 14th 15th 16. 17th 18th Austrian AT 519 211 B1 2020-08-15 that the binding agent line (17) has a section of at least 100 m, in particular of at least 300 m, along which several atomizing nozzles (20, 21) are arranged. Device according to one of Claims 1 to 8, characterized, that the atomizing nozzles (20, 21) are arranged along the binding agent line (17) at a distance of not more than 10 m, preferably not more than 8 m and in particular not more than 7 m. Device according to one of Claims 1 to 9, characterized, that the atomizing nozzles (20, 21) for spraying off the binding agent are designed with a circular or circular segment-shaped spray cone, the maximum distance between two adjacent atomizing nozzles (20, 21) not being greater than 80% of the diameter of this circle. Device according to one of Claims 1 to 10, characterized, that the binder reservoir provides the binder with a maximum pressure of 0 bar and preferably with a maximum pressure of 5 bar. Device according to one of Claims 1 to 11, characterized, that the binder reservoir provides the binder with a minimum pressure of 2 bar and preferably with a minimum pressure of 4 bar. Device according to one of Claims 1 to 12, characterized, that the atomizing nozzle (s) (20, 21) is arranged and oriented at a distance from the dust source in such a way that the binding agent is not sprayed directly onto the dust source. Device according to one of Claims 1 to 13, characterized, that the atomizing nozzle (s) (20, 21) are designed in such a way that the binder is atomized with a droplet size of 30 to 120 µm and preferably 50 to 100 µm and in particular 60 to 90 µm. Device according to one of Claims 1 to 14, characterized, that the at least one atomizing nozzle (20, 21) is a pressure nozzle which opens automatically from a certain opening pressure of the supplied binding agent, or is combined with an automatically opening pressure control valve, and the device has a pressure control with which the pressure in the binding agent line (17) can be controlled. Device according to one of Claims 1 to 15, characterized, that the pressure control has a control valve which is arranged in the binding agent line (17) in the area between the binding agent reservoir and the at least one pressure nozzle and can be controlled by a control device (38). Device according to one of Claims 1 to 16, characterized, that the at least one atomizing nozzle (20, 21) is provided with a valve that can be controlled directly by a control device (38). Device according to one of Claims 1 to 17, characterized, that the binding agent reservoir comprises at least one pressure vessel with a gas cushion (41) which is divided into a gas pressure space and a binding agent space. 37/54 19. 20. 21. 22. 23. 24. 25th 26th 27. Austrian AT 519 211 B1 2020-08-15 Device according to claim 18, characterized, that the pressure vessel with gas cushion (41) has a supply line (42) for filling the pressure vessel with gas cushion (41) and a discharge line (43) for emptying the pressure vessel with gas cushion (41), the supply line (42) opposite the discharge line (43 ) a flow resistance, such as a cross-sectional constriction, so that the filling of the pressure vessel with gas cushion (41) takes place with a lower volume flow than the emptying of the pressure vessel with gas cushion (41). Device according to claim 19, characterized, that the discharge line (43) has a non-return valve so that binder can only flow through the discharge line (43) to empty the membrane container. Device according to one of Claims 1 to 20, characterized, that the device has a pump (24, 27) which the binding agent pumps and that a pressure switch is coupled to the binding agent line (17), which switches on the pump (24, 27) when the pressure drops below a predetermined switch-on pressure, the switch-on time. Device according to claim 21, characterized, _ that the pressure switch is designed such that when a predetermined switch-off pressure, the switch-off time, is exceeded, the pump (24, 27) switches off and / or an emergency drain valve opens. Device according to claim 21 or 22, characterized, that a flow measuring device is coupled to the binding agent line (17) in such a way that the pump (24, 27) is switched off and / or an emergency drain valve is opened when the flow rate falls below a predetermined minimum, the switch-off time. Device according to claim 22 or 23, characterized, that at least one switch-off delay device is provided which allows the pump (24, 27) to be switched off only after a predetermined delay time interval has elapsed, the delay time interval beginning with the switch-on time or the switch-off time or a time between the switch-on time and the switch-off time. Device according to one of Claims 22 to 24, characterized, _ that an overpressure pressure switch is coupled to the binding agent line (17), which switches off the pump (24, 27) and / or opens an emergency discharge valve upon detection of a predetermined overpressure which is greater than the switch-off pressure. Device according to one of Claims 1 to 25, characterized, that a flow monitor is provided in the binding agent line (17), which measures the flow in the binding agent line (17), and the pump (24, 27) is switched off if, after a predetermined delay interval has elapsed after the pump (24, 27) has been switched on the flow is less than a predetermined flow value. Device according to claim 26, characterized, that the binding agent line (17) has a main line (50) and a secondary line (49) running parallel to the main line (50) with a smaller cross-section, the flow monitor being arranged in the secondary line (49). 38/54 28. Device according to claim 26 or 27, characterized, that the flow monitor is designed in such a way that it controls the flow indirectly based on the temperature of the binding agent in the pump (24, 27) or in the flow direction shortly after the pump (24, 27) and / or based on the power consumption of the pump (24, 27) and / or based on the power consumption of the pump (24, 27) and / or based on the pressure difference before / after the pump (24, 27) and / or based on the pressure before the pump (24, 27) and / or based on the pressure after the pump (24, 27) and / or based on the noise of the pump (24, 27) and / or based on the current energy consumption of the pump shaft. 29. Device according to one of claims 1 to 28, characterized in that a venting device is arranged in the binding agent line (17). 30. The device according to claim 29, characterized in that the venting device is a passive vent valve which is designed to be permeable to gas and impermeable to liquids. 31. The device according to claim 29 or 30, characterized in that the venting device has a switchable valve which is arranged in the binding agent line (17), which is activated when a gas bubble is present or after predetermined time intervals or after passing through a certain number of predetermined operating states is opened by means of a control device (38). 32. Device according to claim 31, characterized in that the presence of a gas bubble is detected by the control device (38) on the basis of a predetermined operating state and / or is detected by means of a sensor. 33. Device according to one of claims 1 to 32, characterized in that the binding agent line (17) has one or more pressure control valves which, as pressure switching valves, open from a predetermined switching pressure and thus enable a supply of binding agent to the atomizing nozzle (s) (20, 21) or as pressure regulating valves also open from a predetermined switching pressure and at the same time regulating the pressure on the downstream side of the pressure regulating valve to a predetermined pressure range. 34. Apparatus according to claim 33, characterized in that a plurality of pressure control valves are arranged in the binding agent line (17) which have a different switching pressure in order to form sections with different pressure levels in the binding agent line (17). 35. Apparatus according to claim 33 or 34, characterized in that one or more pressure control valves are arranged in a main line (50) of the binding agent line (17) so that the main line (50) is divided into sections with predetermined pressure levels. 36. Device according to one of claims 33 to 35, characterized in that one or more pressure control valves are arranged in a branch branch of the binding agent line (17) branching off from a main branch (50), so that the respective branch branch is closed when the switching pressure is not reached, with the pressure control valves are preferably each integrated in an atomizing nozzle. 39/54 37. Device according to one of claims 1 to 36, characterized in that the binding agent line (17) has one or more pressure reducers which regulate the pressure on the downstream side of the pressure reducer to a predetermined pressure range, the pressure reducer (s) preferably adjacent to an atomization valve arranged or integrated into an atomizing valve. 38. Device according to one of claims 1 to 37, characterized in that the binding agent line (17) has an elasticity for elastic buffering of binding agent of at least 1% and preferably at least 0.5% of the total volume of the binding agent line (17) due to a pipe wall elasticity , at least one gas pocket and / or a membrane container is formed. 39. Device according to one of claims 1 to 38, characterized in that the binding agent line (17) with an elasticity for elastic buffering of binding agent of a maximum of 100% and preferably a maximum of 50% of the total volume of the binding agent line (17) due to a pipe wall elasticity, at least a gas pocket and / or a pressure vessel with gas cushion (41) is formed. 40. Device according to one of claims 1 to 39, characterized in that the binding agent line (17) has a main line (50) in which a pressure reducer is arranged, and a secondary line (49) is arranged parallel to the main line (50), In which is a check valve that opens against the flow direction of the pressure reducer. 41. Device according to one of claims 1 to 40, characterized in that the binder line (17) has at least one filling rate control valve which, based on the detected flow rate of the binder medium, opens a passage for the binder approximately inversely proportional to the flow rate. 42. Apparatus according to claim 41, characterized in that the flow rate is determined based on the pressure difference in the flow direction upstream and downstream of the filling rate control valve and / or that the filling rate control valve can also be controlled by a control device (38), the desired flow rate preferably being adjustable. 43. Device according to one of claims 1 to 42, characterized in that the binding agent line (17) has at least one filling control valve which, based on a detected filling state of the binding agent line (17), opens a passage approximately proportional to the filling state. 44. Device according to claim 43, characterized in that the control valve is designed with at least two opening stages and / or so that it can be opened continuously. 45. Device according to one of claims 1 to 44, characterized in that the binding agent line (17) has at least one pressure holding valve which opens approximately proportionally to the pressure based on the pressure detected in the binding agent line (17) in the flow direction upstream of the pressure holding valve. 40/54 46. Device according to one of claims 1 to 45, characterized in that the binding agent line (17) has a main line (50) and at least one branching branch line from the main line (50), a control valve being provided in the branch line. 47. Apparatus according to claim 46, characterized in that the control valve in the branch line is designed as a pressure relief valve which opens approximately proportionally to the pressure in the main line (50). 48. Apparatus according to claim 47, characterized in that the pressure relief valve opens only after a predetermined minimum pressure in the main line (50). 49. Device according to one of claims 46 to 48, characterized in that the control valve in the branch line is designed as a quick release valve which opens essentially completely from a predetermined minimum pressure in the main line (50). 50. Apparatus according to claim 49, characterized in that the quick release valve closes more slowly than it opens after the pressure in the main line (50) has dropped below the minimum pressure. 51. Device according to one of claims 46 to 50, characterized, that the binding agent line (17) is connected to a well line which leads from the binding agent line (17) down into an underground well, a pump (24, 27) being arranged in the well line and the control valve in the branch line being controlled that when the pump (24, 27) is switched on, the control valve is gradually closed over a predetermined time interval and / or is gradually opened over a further predetermined time interval when the pump (24, 27) is switched off. 52. Device according to one of claims 46 to 51, characterized in that the binding agent line (17) is connected to a well line which leads from the binding agent line (17) down into an underground well, wherein a pump (24, 27) is arranged, and the control valve in the branch line is activated in such a way that the control valve is opened if the pump (24, 27) suddenly stops. 53. Device according to one of claims 1 to 52, characterized in that the binding agent line (17) has a control valve which is controlled by a control device (38) in such a way that when a pump (24, 27) is switched on via a a predetermined time interval opens slowly and / or is closed when the pump (24, 27) is switched off. 54. The device according to claim 53, characterized in that the control valve is designed as a check valve which prevents backflow into the pump (24, 27). 55. Device according to claim 53 or 54, characterized in that the control device (38) is designed to control the pump (24, 27). 41/54 56. Device according to one of claims 1 to 55, characterized in that a control device (38) is provided which is dependent on a fill level of the binder line (17), the fill level of the pressure vessel with gas cushion (41) and / or the flow rate in the binder line (17) controls the supply of binding agent from the pressure vessel with gas cushion (41) into the binding agent line (17). 57. Device according to one of claims 1 to 56, characterized in that a cyclone filter is arranged in the binding agent line (17) which has a flushing supply line and a flushing outlet line with a flushing outlet valve, so that the cyclone filter can be flushed through the cyclone filter without that the remaining sections of the binder line (17) must be emptied. 58. Apparatus according to claim 57, characterized in that a pressure vessel with a gas cushion (41) and / or an external water pressure connection is connected to the flushing supply line in order to provide flushing water. 59. A method for binding dust with a binding agent, wherein a device according to one of claims 1 to 58 is used, and the binding agent is discharged at intervals with spray phases and pause phases. 60. The method according to claim 59, characterized in that the spray phases and the pause phases for at least 2 min. and preferably at least 5 min. and in particular at least 10 min. be. 61. The method according to claim 59, characterized in that the duration of the spraying phases and the pause phases is in the range from 1 second to 120 seconds and preferably in the range from 1 second to 30 seconds in order to generate an artificial mist. 62. The method according to claim 61, characterized in that the spray phase lasts longer than the break phase and in particular is at least twice as long as the break phase. 63. A method for binding dust with a binding agent, wherein a device according to one of claims 1 to 58 is used, wherein during a spraying of binding agent this at a rate of not more than 6 l / m'h and preferably not more than 4 I / m'h and in particular not more than 1.5 I / m · h and in particular not more than 1.2 I / m · h is discharged. 64. A method of binding dust with a binding agent, using a device according to any one of claims 1 to 58, wherein binding agent is sprayed to create an artificial mist, and the binding agent is sprayed into an area that is spaced from a source of dust is that in this area an air flow is not greater than 1 m / s. Also 12 sheets of drawings 42/54